Date:14/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121460311700.htm

Sport - Football

Hull holds Liverpool

LONDON: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s double ensured a 2-2 draw for his side against Hull City on Saturday, but the third straight stalemate at Anfield cast further doubts on the club’s title credentials.

Liverpool tops the Premier League standings, but can be overtaken on Sunday if Chelsea beats West Ham.

Arsenal’s fading title ambitions were dealt a further blow when former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere equalised to clinch a 1-1 draw for Middlesbrough, allowing Aston Villa to dislodge the club from fourth place with a 4-2 win against Bolton.

Hull was tipped as a candidate for relegation when it entered its debut top-flight campaign, but strengthened its hold on sixth place with a point at Liverpool.

Sunderland climbed out of the relegation zone with a 4-0 victory over bottom-place West Bromwich. Kenwyne Jones struck twice to give Sunderland an advantage before Andy Reid and Djibril Cisse completed the rout.

The results: Aston Villa 4 (Gabriel Agbonlahor 25 & 68, Kevin Davies 40-og, Ashley Young 78) bt Bolton Wanderers 2 (Johan Elmander 17, Kevin Davies 86); Liverpool 2 (Steven Gerrard 24 & 32) drew with Hull City 2 (Paul McShane 12, Jamie Carragher 22-og); Manchester City 0 lost to Everton 1 (Tim Cahill 90+2); Stoke City 0 drew with Fulham 0; Sunderland 4 (Kenwyne Jones 22 & 23, Andy Reid 39, Djibril Cisse 47) bt West Bromwich 0; Wigan Athletic 3 (Emile Heskey 10, Antonio Valencia 12, Lee Cattermole 77) bt Blackburn Rovers 0; Middlesbrough 1 (Jeremie Aliadiere 29) drew with Arsenal 1 (Emmanuel Adebayor 17). — Agencies