Jermain Defoe of Tottenham Hotspur scored a hat-trick at Elland Road to help Harry Redknapp’s side overcome Leeds and book a place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-1 win on Wednesday.
England striker Defoe missed a host of good chances but still managed to come up trumps for the Premier League side with strikes in the 37th and 73rd minutes before putting the result beyond all doubt in the fourth minute of stoppage time to take his tally for the season to 22 goals.
Luciano Becchio had equalised for Leeds on the stroke of half-time as Simon Grayson’s League One side threatened to pull off another shock in front of a partisan home crowd.
But Defoe secured a trip for Tottenham to top-flight rivals Bolton in the last 16 and kill-off the Cup dreams of Leeds, who had knocked Manchester United at Old Trafford out of the competition in stunning style in the previous round.
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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.
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Tottenham and England star striker Jermain Defoe missed a penalty in stoppage time as his side threw away a 2 point lead to draw against Everton 2 - 2.
Defoe had put Spurs ahead two minutes into the second half and Michael Dawson doubled their advantage with more than half an hour remaining at Goodison Park.
But substitute striker Louis Saha began Everton’s comeback with a 78th-minute goal and Australian midfielder Tim Cahill grabbed the equalizer on his 30th birthday to end the club’s three-match losing streak in the league.
“We’ve had a bit of bad luck so it was nice to get that draw,” Cahill said.
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Wayne Rooney scored to hand Manchester United a 1 - 0 English Premier League win over newcomers Birmingham, whilst Liverpool lost 2 - 1 againt Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
North-west rivals United and Liverpool slugged it out for the trophy last season but both looked below-par and pedestrian compared with Arsenal who thumped six goals past Everton on Saturday.
The champions at least hung on to claim all three points and with Chelsea also victorious Liverpool were the only one of the four title favourites who failed to win on the opening weekend.
United, minus Cristiano Ronaldo, needed the quick reactions of Rooney 12 minutes before halftime at Old Trafford to see off promoted Birmingham, the England striker stabbing in a rebound after his header hit the post.
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Manchester United can take a big step towards retaining their English Premier League title when they face Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday, but they need to do what all their top rivals haven’t managed this season - take three points against Spurs.
Harry Redknapp’s side may have spent the first half of the season struggling near the bottom of the table, but a defeat of Liverpool, a win and a draw against Chelsea and two draws with Arsenal underline their ability to raise their game against top level opponents.
Liverpool’s 4-4 draw with Arsenal in midweek has increased United’s margin for error.
But although Sir Alex Ferguson’s men capitalised with a 2-0 win over Portsmouth 24 hours later, their performance was sufficiently jittery to suggest Tottenham could pose a tougher challenge at Old Trafford.
Spurs defender Jonathan Woodgate is anticipating a tight encounter and does not expect United to rest any of their big names ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Arsenal.
“We haven’t been beaten by any of the top sides in the league this season and we have beaten Liverpool and Chelsea,” Woodgate said.
“Our record against the top four is impeccable but United will put out a strong side and it will be very tough.”
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Robbie Keane have hinted that he would have enjoyed a fruitful career at Liverpool had there been a different manager. Rafa Benitez brought Keane to Anfield last summer but the Republic of Ireland international was given few opportunities to impress.
He was not a regular starter and was surprisingly left on the substitutes’ bench at times when he appeared to be a good option for the Reds. Keane, who secured a swift move back to Tottenham in the winter transfer window, insists he made the right decision to join Liverpool. But he admits he was perhaps not suited to working with Benitez, and has hinted that he would have liked to be treated with more respect.
“Of course I wish it had gone differently, but I have no regrets,” Keane told Icon magazine.
“I do believe with a different manager it would have worked for me, but different managers have different methods and some have different ideas than those you are used to or believe in.
“People have their own opinions of Benitez. I have nothing against him and will leave people to make their own minds up about him.
“When you’ve been around for a while as a player, all you want is a bit of respect and to be treated the way you feel you deserve to be.”
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