Liverpool’s bid for a first English title since 1990 suffered a significant setback on Wednesday as Rafael Benitez’s side were held to a 1-1 draw at Wigan.
A late penalty equalizer from Egyptian striker Mido earned Wigan a deserved point and enabled Chelsea, 2-0 winners over Middlesbrough, to reclaim second place from Liverpool, courtesy of their superior goal difference.
Both clubs however will be acutely aware that the title is now Manchester United’s to lose with the champions, who thrashed West Brom 5-0 on Tuesday, two points clear of both their nearest rivals with a game in hand.
Arsenal’s chances of a return to the Champions League next season suffered another blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Everton.
It could have been worse for the Gunners but for Robin van Persie’s stoppage time equalizer, which canceled out Tim Cahill’s opener for Everton.
The draw nevertheless left Arsenal five points adrift of Aston Villa, the side currently occupying the fourth and final qualifying spot for Europe’s elite competition.
“A point is never enough because you always play for three but it was a difficult game and I maintain that Everton are as big a threat for us as Aston Villa,” Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said.
Yossi Benayoun put Liverpool ahead at Wigan four minutes before half-time. Wigan dominated after the break, but Liverpool looked like they would hold out before Jason Koumas went down under an unnecessary challenge from Lucas Leiva.
Mido, signed on loan from Middlesbrough until the end of the season, stepped up and smashed the spot-kick past Jose Reina.
“We had control of the game and we didn’t kill it,” Benitez complained. “When you are top of the table you know that every single game is really important so when you lose two points you have to be disappointed. But we have an important game on Sunday [against Chelsea] and if we play like we played in the first half we can beat anyone.”
A double from Salomon Kalou gave Chelsea their win over Middlesbrough and set up what the Blues’ assistant manager, Ray Wilkins, billed as a “massive game” at Liverpool on Sunday.
“Over the past couple of years, we’ve had some fantastic games with them,” Wilkins added. “I’m sure this will be the same.”
Blackburn came from two goals down to rescue a point against local rivals Bolton with Benni McCarthy making amends for a missed penalty by notching the equalizer.
Matt Taylor and Kevin Davies had put Bolton 2-0 ahead at the break. Stephen Warnock pulled a goal back in the 66th-minute and McCarthy ultimately rescued a point despite having a penalty saved by Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Brazilian forward Robinho put off-field worries to one side to set up Shaun Wright-Phillips for Manchester City’s opening goal in a 2-1 win over Newcastle.
Questioned by police on Tuesday over an alleged sexual assault, Robinho was named in the starting line-up and rewarded the faith of manager Mark Hughes with the pass that cued up Wright-Phillips to score after 17 minutes.
West Ham extended their unbeaten run to seven matches by beating Hull 2-0 with goals either side of half-time from David Di Michele and Carlton Cole.
■SERIE A
AFP, ROME
Diego Milito equalized three minutes from time to deny David Beckham a winning goal as AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Genoa at the San Siro on Wednesday.
Just three days after scoring his first goal for Milan, in the 4-1 win at Bologna, former England skipper Beckham netted his second from a free-kick, but it wasn’t enough to guide the Italian giants to victory.
The goal, however, will have done little to calm the developing Beckham drama in Milan where both club and player have admitted they wish to extend his proposed two-month loan stay in the Italian financial capital.
Milan coach Ancelotti was understandably disappointed after the game and gave short shrift to a question about Beckham staying.
“We haven’t managed to win a match in which we played really well and which we deserved to win,” he said. “I’m disappointed that we’ve tripped up because the team was on the right path but the championship goes on.”
On Beckham he added: “He is appreciated here and if he stays we’ll be happy but he has to resolve the problem with his club.”
When Beckham, under contract with LA Galaxy in the US, lined up wide on the left of the area just after the half hour it seemed more likely that a cross was coming.
But the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder stunned Genoa’s Brazilian goalkeeper Rubinho by shooting into the top corner at the near post.
However, Serie A joint top scorer Milito poked home from close range late on to dampen the party atmosphere in the San Siro.
It means that third placed Milan fell to eight points behind leaders Inter as the champions won 2-0 at Catania in Sicily despite playing for an hour with 10 men.
Coach Jose Mourinho sat out a one-match ban in the stadium, but star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said the team were not affected.
“Today the manager wasn’t there but we were just as good with our boss in the stands and when he returns we’ll be even better,” he said. “We played a great match with a man down and it wasn’t easy but we showed our strength.”
Inter’s lead now stands at six points after Juventus lost 2-1 at Udinese, who won for the first time in 12 matches.
Fabio Quagliarella gave Udinese the lead on 20 minutes after a lightning break involving Antonio Di Natale and Kwadwo Assamoah.
Di Natale added a second 16 minutes from time but three minutes later Vincenzo Iaquinta pulled a goal back from the penalty spot to set up a nervy finale.
■SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP
AFP, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan sympathized with opposite number Craig Levein after his side set up a Scottish League Cup final clash with Rangers following a penalty shoot-out win over Dundee United.
The Hoops edged an epic semi-final spotkick competition 11-10 when Australian striker Scott McDonald scored his second penalty after Celtic target Willo Flood sent his second effort crashing off Artur Boruc’s bar.
Despite the game at Hampden being goalless after extra time, the Celtic manager said it had been a treat for the fans and hailed United for their contribution.
“I really thought we were terrific and I think the game should have been finished before the shootout,” Strachan said. “You’ve got to give credit to Dundee United for standing up and being counted. I can’t remember too many games as good as that.
“I have sympathy for Craig but I would be feeling sorry for myself if my team had been beaten. The two managers can be really delighted with the performances.”
The Celtic manager also had praise for United captain Lee Wilkie, whose penalty was saved in the shootout.
The big central defender has suffered several career threatening injuries that have kept him out of the game for two years.
The match ended goalless after 120 minutes but was packed full of action.
It started at a frantic pace and Celtic had a chance through Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink with less than a minute gone.
Then a minute later Flood, a target for Celtic in the transfer window, went on a mazy run past several defenders before he forced Boruc into a good save from a low shot.
United goalkeeper Lucasz Zaluska, who will join Celtic in the summer, had to be alert to parry away a powerful Scott Brown drive from the edge of the box after 43 minutes. Prince Buaben was inches away from putting the Arabs ahead when his shot from the edge of the box zipped past the post in the 73rd minute.
The game headed into extra time and with 95 minutes gone Wilkie had to stretch to knock sub Georgios Samaras’ cross out for a corner under pressure from McDonald.
In the 108th minute, Flood raced past Gary Caldwell and Loovens and angled his shot across Boruc but it bounced by the post.
With a minute remaining, Samaras thought he had clinched it for Celtic but his looping header crashed off the underside of the bar and out.
■BUNDESLIGA
AFP, BERLIN
Bayer Leverkusen, Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg booked their places in the quarter-finals of the German Cup on Wednesday, while second-tier Wehen Wiesbaden sprung a surprise with a 1-0 win at first-division Karlsruhe.
They join Hamburg, Schalke 04, second-division Mainz and reigning cup-holders Bayern Munich in the last eight, which will feature six of the current top 10 from the country’s top division.
First-half goals from Patrick Helmes, Michal Kadlec and Renato Augusto secured Leverkusen a 3-1 win at home to Energie Cottbus, while second-half strikes by Hugo Almeida and Claudio Pizarro gave Werder Bremen a 2-1 comeback victory at Borussia Dortmund.
A second-half effort from forward Ronny Konig earned second-tier Wehen an unexpected 1-0 win over Bundesliga strugglers Karlsruhe, while Wolfsburg crushed Hansa Rostock Hansa Rostock 5-1.
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