Liverpool closed to within three points of leaders Manchester United yesterday following a comfortable 3-0 victory at Anfield over Newcastle United.
The Reds were helped by some lackluster defending by the Magpies in the first half and any nerves in the Kop were calmed in the 22nd minute when a Dirk Kuyt cross found Yossi Benayoun unmarked at the far post.
There was more than a hint of offside when the ball was crossed, but Benayoun scored with his knee to give the Reds the lead.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Kuyt got one of his own six minutes later when bad marking at a corner allowed him a free header in the middle of the box that he powered past Magpies keeper Steve Harper.
Joey Barton got a straight red card after a tackle from behind on Xavi Alonso in the 77th minute, before Lucas scored Liverpool’s third after more poor defending from a free-kick 10 minutes later.
On Saturday, Manchester United eased to a 2-0 win at relegation-threatened Middlesbrough.
Goals either side of halftime from Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-sung ensured an easy win for Sir Alex Ferguson’s reigning champions at the Riverside Stadium.
The defeat left Middlesbrough second bottom of the table and still three points short of safety.
“It was a very good performance in the sense that they all worked their socks off,” said Ferguson, whose side are bidding to equal Liverpool’s record of 18 English titles.
Chelsea, at full strength ahead of the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, moved level on points with Liverpool after a 3-1 home win in the west London derby against Fulham, the first three goals coming in the opening 10 minutes.
The match at Stamford Bridge was not even 60 seconds old when Nicolas Anelka scored after Florent Malouda’s cross was held up by Didier Drogba.
But Chelsea’s lead lasted just three minutes. Erik Nevland unleashed a shot which Petr Cech got a hand to but could not keep out.
Fulham, the surprise package of the Premier League season, were behind again in the 10th minute when John Pantsil was unable to cut out Drogba’s cross and Malouda scored at the back post.
Drogba got on the scoresheet early in the second half after strike partner Anelka returned the Ivorian’s earlier favor.
“I was happy with the result, but we had too many moments in this game when we were a little bit sloppy,” Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink said.
Elsewhere, Arsenal’s 3-0 win away to Portsmouth at Fratton Park ensured the “Big Four” — United, Liverpool, Chelsea and the Gunners — would all look down on the rest of the table come the end of the season.
Victory left fourth-placed Arsenal 13 points clear of Aston Villa with only a maximum of 12 available to the Midlands club, who play Hull City today.
The Gunners, much changed ahead of the second leg of their Champions League clash with holders United, were helped on their way when England goalkeeper David James made his latest high-profile mistake by letting Nicklas Bendtner’s weak header slip through his fingers.
Danish striker Bendtner made it 2-0 four minutes before halftime from the penalty spot following a disputed foul by Sean Davis on Andrey Arshavin.
Pompey were punished for missing chances early in the second half when Carlos Vela added a third Arsenal goal and the hosts then saw Noe Pamarot sent off for a foul on Arshavin.
“I wanted to give a breather to some of the players,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “We dominated the first half and created plenty of chances through our movement and technical quality. We were sharp, composed and mobile with a great attitude.”
Pompey boss Paul Hart was not too downcast.
“The teams around us lost, so today it has not made that much difference to us,” Hart said. “I know other teams have some difficult fixtures, so if we can get one more win, life will be easier for us.”
Manchester City left Blackburn Rovers nervously looking over their shoulders after a 3-1 win at Eastlands, where South American trio Felipe Caicedo, Robinho and Elano all scored before the break.
Caicedo sent City on their way, before Robinho added a second with a shot that gave keeper Paul Robinson no chance.
Elano made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after a handball in the box, before Rovers pulled one back through Keith Andrews.
Blackburn next play Portsmouth in a match where the winners will all but guarantee their top-flight survival.
Rovers boss Sam Allaryce said: “We want to make sure we get three points next week. If we do that it will be in the bag and we won’t have to rely on what other people do.”
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur beat bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion 1-0 thanks to Jermaine Jenas’ 25m curling shot, while Diego Tristan’s free-kick from a similar distance gave European contenders West Ham United a 1-0 win away to Stoke City.
“Nine points [out of the last three games] will give us 37 — it’s a huge ask, but we’re more than capable of doing it, starting against Wigan next week,” West Brom manager Tony Mowbray said.
Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers played out a goalless draw.
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