Liverpool go top after six-goal salvo
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Article summary
Liverpool FC moved to the top of the Premier League after hitting Derby County FC for six while city rivals Everton FC are just behind after earning a late win.
Article body
Alonso double
Last season's UEFA Champions League finalists sounded an ominous warning to their league rivals as they swept aside newly-promoted Derby at Anfield. Xabi Alonso made light of the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard with two goals (26, 68) while summer signings took care of the rest as Ryan Babel (45), Andriy Voronin (75) and Fernando Torres (55, 77) struck to complete an impressive triumph.
Lescott winner
With Chelsea FC not playing Aston Villa FC until Sunday, Everton took the opportunity to move into second place but left it late at Bolton. Nicolas Anelka had celebrated his new four-year deal at the club by cancelling out Everton debutant Yakubu Ayegbeni's tenth-minute strike early in the second half, but Joleon Lescott popped up with the winning goal a minute from time. It put Everton level on ten points with their arch-rivals, albeit having played a match more.
United triumph
Michael Owen (86) also grabbed a late winner as his first league goal for Newcastle united FC since 2005/06 edged out ten-man Wigan Athletic FC 1-0, while at Old Trafford Manchester United FC prevailed by the same score to earn a hard-fought win against Sunderland AFC. Substitute Louis Saha's second-half strike was enough to take the champions to within two points of the league leaders.
Caught by Kamara
Tottenham Hotspur FC's disappointing start to the season continued as they also conceded late on to draw 3-3 at Fulham FC. Martin Jol's side had taken a commanding 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Younis Kaboul (9), Dimitar Berbatov (27) and Gareth Bale (60) but a spectacular overhead-kick by Diomansy Kamara (89) salvaged a point for the hosts, who had earlier scored through Clint Dempsey (41) and Alexei Smertin (76). Elsewhere, defender David Wheater (11) and England midfielder Stuart Downing (36) were in the goals as Middlesbrough FC won 2-0 against Birmingham City FC and West Ham United FC ran out 3-0 winners at Reading FC thanks to strikes by Craig Bellamy (7) and Matthew Etherington (48, 90).