Liverpool keep pace atop Prem

Subject: Liverpool keep pace atop Prem Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:56 pm

Liverpool maintained their three-point lead over Chelsea at the top of the English Premier League as a blunder by Papa Bouba Diop marred Tony Adams's first match as Portsmouth manager.

The visitors were hanging on to a goalless draw at Anfield on Wednesday when Diop handled in the box 14 minutes from time to give away a penalty. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard beat former Reds keeper David James from the spot as Rafael Benitez's men backed up their win away to Chelsea.

The London Blues, having surrendered their 86-game unbeaten league run at their Stamford Bridge home, kept the pressure on with a 3-0 win away to surprise package Hull City.

Arsenal leapfrogged Hull into third place but only on goal difference after an extraordinary 4-4 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

The result left Spurs, who'd beaten Bolton in new manager Harry Redknapp's first game in charge, still at the bottom of the table. Stoke City, however, climbed out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win at home to Sunderland.

Fulham also pulled clear of danger with a 2-0 win over Wigan, the visitors dropping into the relegation zone. Elsewhere Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as champions Manchester United beat West Ham 2-0 at Old Trafford.

Aston Villa stayed in the top five by coming from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2 while Middlesbrough beat Manchester City 2-0 and Everton left it until the last minute before seeing off fellow strugglers Bolton 1-0.

Spurs up, down, then back
Tottenham took a 13th minute lead in spectacular fashion when, from fully 40 yards out, England midfielder David Bentley flicked the ball up and lobbed a swerving volley over the head of Manuel Almunia.

However the Gunners equalised in the 37th minute when Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was beaten to the ball from a corner by the head of former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre.

William Gallas, Arsenal's other France centre-half, made it 2-1 for the home side a minute after the break he headed in Robin van Persie's free-kick.

Van Persie's precise long pass released Samir Nasri who in turn lobbed Gomes before striker Emmanuel Adebayor bundled the ball home.

Spurs striker Darren Bent scored in the 67th minute following an Almunia error but barely 60 seconds later Arsenal's two-goal lead was restored by Dutch striker van Persie after Adebayor seized on a loose pass from Spurs defender Alan Hutton.

But another defensive error saw Spurs's Jermaine Jenas storm forward before curling a shot past Almunia in the 89th minute. And there was still time for Aaron Lennon to give the visitors a share of the spoils.

Ronaldo show
United needed just 14 minutes to take the lead against the Hammers with a goal made in Portugal after Ronaldo got on the end of a pass from Nani. Superb individual skill from Dimitar Berbatov then helped Ronaldo make it 2-0 in the 30th minute.

Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a third minute lead with a sublime left-footed chip over Hull keeper Boaz Myhill for the 99th league goal of the England midfielder's career.

Myhill denied Chelsea a second when he tipped over a Nicolas Anelka shot. But the France forward did make it 2-0 five minutes after half-time when he capitalised on hesitation between Myhill and his defenders.

Florent Malouda put the result at the KC Stadium beyond all doubt with a third goal 15 minutes from time. Blackburn went ahead on the half hour when Stephen Warnock beat former Rovers keeper Brad Friedel.

Villa move up
Aston Villa, after going a goal down to Blackburn, levelled on the stroke of half-time through full-back Luke Young. And the hosts took the lead when Gareth Barry finished from a few yards out, the midfielder's third goal in as many games.

Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor made it 3-1 before Australia international Brett Emerton pulled a goal back for Rovers.

Middlesbrough, who saw goalkeeper Ross Turnbull make several saves to keep the game at 0-0, went ahead through Afonso Alves's 53rd minute penalty after defender David Wheater was brought down in the City box by Daniel Sturridge.

Gary O'Neil sealed Boro's success with a last minute goal. Stoke, fresh from a Robinho-inspired 3-0 defeat against Manchester City, saw striker Ricardo Fuller score got on the end of a delivery from long-throw specialist Rory Delap.

Fulham striker Andy Johnson struck from close range in the 11th minute for his 100th league goal to put the hosts ahead at Craven Cottage. Johnson then made it 2-0 on the hour when he latched on to Jimmy Bullard's clever free-kick and scored from a tight angle.

Everton were heading for a goalless draw away to Bolton until Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini scored his second goal in as many games.

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