27 January
Liverpool draw against Wolves; Spurs beat Fulham
Liverpool’s hopes of returning to the Champions League next year was dealt another setback whilst Tottenham retained their spot in the top four by beating Fulham 2 - 0.
Despite the return of club captain Steven Gerrard from injury, Rafael Benitez’s men were listless in a goalless stalemate at struggling Wolves.
But the Liverpool manager was defiantly upbeat after a result that means his side are unbeaten in five matches in the league.
“We had two or three chances in the first half and it was same in the second but our final pass not the best,” the Spaniard said.
“But it is another clean sheet and everyone is working really hard, so I think it is really positive.”
The draw leaves Liverpool three points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham, who were always in control of their London derby clash with Fulham at White Hart Lane.
“Three points — that was the main thing tonight, but I think the win was well deserved tonight,” said Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.
Spurs went ahead mid-way through the first half through Peter Crouch, who fired home after being teed up by Luka Modric following a wonderful piece of improvisation from the Croatia playmaker.
David Bentley made sure of the win with a second-half free-kick that found the net with the help of a deflection off Bjorn Helge Riise which wrong-footed Fulham’s Australian goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer.
At the other end of the table, it was a memorable night for Bolton, who claimed their first league win under new manager Owen Coyle, at the expense of his former club Burnley.
Lee Chung-Yong’s 35th-minute strike proved enough to earn Bolton a 1-0 win that lifted them out of the relegation zone.
As a result of West Ham and Wolves both picking up a point apiece, Burnley dropped into the drop zone for the first time this season.
Predictably, Coyle was given a hostile reception from the visiting fans, who hurled “Judas” insults at the man they used to refer to as “God.”
A more appropriate biblical reference, Coyle wryly reminded his critics, would be Moses, given his achievement in leading Burnley to the promised land of the Premier League.
West Ham had to settle for a 1-1 draw at bottom club Portsmouth after taking the lead at Fratton Park.
The Hammers had gone ahead seven minutes into the second-half.
Alessandro Diamanti curled a corner from the right towards the back post and, after it had been deflected goalwards by Pompey defender Younes Kaboul, the ball ended up in the net off the thigh of Matthew Upson.
The Hammers looked strong favourites to go on and take all three points at that stage, but Portsmouth snatched an equaliser with just under quarter of an hour left.
John Utaka played in Danny Webber and the substitute slotted his finish through the legs of Hammers’ goalkeeper Robert Green for his first Premier League goal.
Source + Pic: supersport.co.za
