Print

Mail

wiki links

Hammers hit by revived Liverpool

West Ham's Frederic Kanoute strikes the ball during the Premier League soccer match against Liverpool at Upton Park in London on Sunday. Liverpool trounced the Londoners 3-0. PHOTO: AP

Milan Baros and Steven Gerrard scored in the first 10 minutes and Emile Heskey added another to give Liverpool a 3-0 victory at West Ham and a firm grip on sixth place in England.

The loss left West Ham in relegation danger in 19th place and tied on points with West Brom with 20. Sunderland is dead-last with 19 points.

Baros scored on a header in the 7th minute off a perfect corner from John Arne Riise. Two mintues later, Riise deliever from another corner. This time West Ham goalkeeper David James cleared the ball to Gerrard, who drilled it home from just outside the area.

With the victory in hand, Heskey delievered the final blow in the 67th.

The victory gave Liverpool 42 points in sixth place, 14 behind league-leading Arsenal.

The Gunners, who defeated Fulham 2-1 on Saturday on a last-minute goal by Robert Pires, have 56 points followed by Manchester United (50), Newcastle (48), Chelsea (45) and Everton (45).

Blackburn played at Aston Villa in a late match Sunday.

Pires scored both goals for Arsenal. He put the Gunners ahead in the 17th only to have Fulham's Steed Malbranque level in the 29th.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the last-minute victory showed the Gunners' spirit.

``We did that a few times last year and we have done it again this weekend. That strengthens the belief of the squad that we can do it.''

Midfielder Patrick Vieira said the team has ``self belief.''

``We fought until the end and we believed that we would score.''

Manchester United picked up a 2-0 away victory at Southampton on goals by Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs.

Newcastle's match at Middlesbrough was called off because of a frozen pitch.

Chelsea managed only a 1-1 draw at home against Tottenham. The highlight was a twisting 35m free kick scored by the Blues' striker Gianfranco Zola.

Everton won 2-0 at home over troubled Leeds, which left Leeds winless in five games following controversial sales last week of striker Robbie Fowler and defender Jonathan Woodgate.

West Brom shocked Manchester City 2-1 at Maine Road, where new striker Robbie Fowler did little. Darren Moore got the winner in the 71st. The Baggies then had to hang on after Jason Roberts was sent off in the 81st for violent conduct. off make it touch and go.''

Sunderland, which scored a disastrous three own-goals in seven minutes, fell 3-1 to Charlton and dropped to last place.

In Saturday's other game, Bolton jolted Birmingham City 4-2, giving the Wanderers 24 points -- four above the final relegation place.
This story has been viewed 1655 times.