Date:29/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/29/stories/2008122959741700.htm

Sport - Football

Liverpool consolidates

LONDON: Liverpool moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League after it beat Newcastle United 5-1 and second-placed Chelsea was held to a 2-2 draw at neighbour Fulham on Sunday.

Arsenal ended a run of three successive draws to beat Portsmouth 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium with a late goal from William Gallas.

Liverpool leads the standings with 45 points from 20 matches, three ahead of Chelsea (42), followed by Manchester United, Aston Villa and Arsenal, all on 35 points, although United currently has three games in hand on the leaders.

The victory at St. James’ Park was Liverpool’s biggest of the season and followed up its 3-0 demolition of Bolton Wanderers on Friday.

Gerrard sizzles

Steven Gerrard scored twice with Sami Hyypia, Ryan Babel and Xabi Alonso (penalty) adding the others.

There was a thrilling derby at Craven Cottage where Fulham took an early lead through Clint Dempsey before two goals from Frank Lampard put Chelsea ahead with 17 minutes to play.

Dempsey scored Fulham’s equaliser in the dying minutes.

The results:

Arsenal 1 (Gallas 81) bt Portsmouth 0; Bolton 0 lost to Wigan 1 (Zaki 44-pen); Everton 3 (Arteta 10, 27, Gosling 83) bt Sunderland 0; Fulham 2 (Dempsey 10, 89) drew with Chelsea 2 (Lampard 50, 73); Newcastle 1 (Edgar 45) lost to Liverpool 5 (Gerrard 31, 66, Hyypia 36, Babel 50, Xabi Alonso 77-pen); West Brom 2 (Bednar 83, Beattie 90) bt Tottenham 0; West Ham 2 (Cole 51, Tristan 88) bt Stoke 1 (Faye 4); Blackburn 2 (McCarthy 45, Roberts 84) drew with Manchester City 2 (Sturridge 88, Robinho 90+4). — Agencies