Lacklustre Liverpool held by Stoke

Liverpool FC extended their lead at the top of the Premier League on Saturday, but were forced to settle for a point in a lacklustre goalless draw away to Stoke City FC.

Subdued
In a below-par performance, Liverpool came closest when Steven Gerrard hit the crossbar with a free-kick eight minutes from time then the post in added-time after latching on to Fernando Torres's flick on. Defeat, though, would have been hard on Stoke who also rattled the woodwork off a Rory Delap strike early on. With second-placed Chelsea FC playing Manchester United FC on Sunday, Liverpool had the chance to pull six points clear of their nearest rivals but will now have to content themselves with a four-point cushion ahead of tomorrow's big match at Old Trafford.

Davies strikes
Aston Villa FC, Arsenal FC and Everton FC all won in the race for fourth spot, with Villa moving above Manchester United into third place following a 2-1 win at home to local rivals West Bromwich Albion FC. Curtis Davies opened the scoring with a header against his old club on 19 minutes and Villa doubled their advantage four minutes before the interval when Scott Carson was credited with a own goal after letting Gabriel Agbonlahor's low cross squirm in under his body. James Morrison pulled one back for West Brom four minutes after the break, but it was not enough for them to salvage a point and they remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Bendtner strike
Arsenal were made to wait before sealing victory at home to Bolton Wanderers FC, Nicklas Bendtner striking six minutes from time to keep the Gunners within touching distance of Villa in the race for fourth spot. Everton, in sixth, are also in the hunt for the UEFA Champions League places after winning for the fourth time in five league games, this time 2-0 at home to Hull City AFC thanks to first-half goals from Marounane Fellaini and Mikel Arteta.

Games off
At the other end of the table Kenwyne Jones struck eight minutes from time to earn Sunderland AFC a point from a 1-1 draw away to north-east rivals Middlesbrough FC and Newcastle United FC drew 2-2 with West Ham United FC. Elsewhere the fixture list was affected by the weather with Fulham FC's home game against Blackburn Rovers FC and Manchester City FC's trip to Portsmouth FC both called off because of frozen pitches.