Liverpool boosted their push for a top-four place after first-half goals from Charlie Adam and Andy Carroll secured a 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Adam scored a ninth-minute penalty at The Hawthorns, before Carroll made certain of the three points in first-half stoppage-time as Baggies manager Roy Hodgson failed to mastermind a repeat of last season’s triumph over his former club.
Following draws against Manchester United and Norwich City, it was a first Premier League victory in three games for Kenny Dalglish’s team, who are now seven games unbeaten in all competitions and up to fifth, within a point of third-placed Chelsea.
Photo: Reuters
Steven Gerrard was a notable absentee from Liverpool’s lineup after an ankle infection prompted him to be left out as a precautionary measure. The Reds were also without Jamie Carragher, who was sidelined with a calf injury.
Hodgson selected Somen Tchoyi in place of the injured Shane Long in the only change to his Baggies team which defeated Aston Villa.
The Baggies benefited from a controversial decision by the referee’s assistant in that match when Villa’s Chris Herd saw red, but this time they were on the receiving end of one.
Referee Lee Mason appeared ready to let play continue when Luis Suarez tumbled inside the area under a challenge from Jerome Thomas, yet, despite the absence of a claim from the Reds forward, his assistant Gary Beswick flagged for a penalty.
Following a lengthy delay as the Baggies angrily protested, Scotland midfielder Adam kept his composure to roll the resulting penalty into the bottom-left corner.
Liverpool soon had another penalty appeal when England striker Carroll went down as he jostled with Jonas Olsson, but Mason instead awarded a free-kick in the Baggies’ favor.
Thomas attempted to make amends in the 15th minute, but the West Brom winger dragged his low shot well wide of the left post.
In-form Suarez was guilty of an uncharacteristic miss when he fired wide of the goal from 10m after being picked out by Martin Skrtel, but he atoned on the stroke of halftime when his threaded pass picked out the unmarked Carroll, who slotted superbly beyond the advancing Ben Foster with the outside of his outstretched left boot.
Hodgson was evidently furious with his team’s defending, removing his coat and throwing it down in frustration.
Earlier on Saturday, Manchester City beat Wolverhampton Wanderers to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
City, riding high after their 6-1 demolition of United the previous weekend, overcame a late fightback from Wolves after being reduced to 10 men to secure a 3-1 victory at Eastlands.
Edin Dzeko, Aleksandar Kolarov and Adam Johnson scored second-half goals for City, who had captain Vincent Kompany sent off for a foul that allowed Wolves’ Stephen Hunt to score from the penalty spot.
A thrilling battle at Carrow Road saw Norwich City battle back from 3-1 down to force a 3-3 draw with Blackburn Rovers.
Grant Holt equalized with a controversial penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to give the Canaries a point.
A fine individual effort from Rovers’ Canadian international David Hoilett gave the visitors the lead, before Steve Morison equalized for Norwich.
Two Rovers goals in two minutes from Ayegbeni Yakubu and Christopher Samba looked to have sealed a valuable win, but Norwich were not to be denied. Bradley Johnson pulled a goal back on 82 minutes, before Holt’s dramatic late equalizer from the penalty spot.
Sunderland and Aston Villa shared the points in a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.
Stiliyan Petrov fired Villa ahead on 20 minutes, before Conor Wickham leveled for Sunderland with his first Premier League goal.
Villa went 2-1 up from Richard Dunne with five minutes left, but Stephane Sessegnon leveled on 89 minutes for the Black Cats.
Newly promoted Swansea City piled on the agony for Bolton Wanderers at the Liberty Stadium with a 3-1 victory.
The damage was done in a devastating spell after halftime, Swansea scoring through Joe Allen and a Scott Sinclair penalty either side of the dismissal of Bolton fullback Ricardo Gardner.
A Danny Graham own-goal gave Bolton hope at 2-1, but the striker made amends with a stoppage-time strike to clinch the win.
Wigan Athletic’s woes continued as Fulham won 2-0 at the DW Stadium.
Clint Dempsey put Fulham 1-0 up shortly before halftime, sweeping in a Bobby Zamora cross on 41 minutes, before Moussa Dembele added a second four minutes from time.
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