Anelka double downs Arsenal

Bogey team
Arsenal's travel sickness continued on Saturday as they slumped to their third defeat of the season, a 3-1 reverse against Bolton Wanderers. Former Gunner Nicolas Anelka was twice on target after Abdoulaye Faye's early headed goal put the visitors on the back foot. Although Gilberto pulled a goal back before half-time to reduce the arrears to 2-1 and despite his side hitting the woodwork three times, Arsenal struggled to break through, as they often have in the past at Bolton, and slipped to sixth place in the Premiership, 12 points behind Manchester United FC who play Chelsea FC on Sunday.

Gerrard first
While Liverpool's away form may have also seriously dented their league title credentials their home form is only equalled by Chelsea. Rafa Benítez's side managed to seal their sixth home victory on Saturday when Steven Gerrard, who was on target in the 2-0 UEFA Champions League win against PSV Eindhoven in midweek, scored his first league goal of the season midway through the second half. Capitalising on a mistake by Joey Barton, the England midfielder fired a lethal shot past goalkeeper Nicky Weaver.

Mullins header
West Ham United celebrated their first game under new ownership with their third straight home win against Sheffield United FC. After giving Icelandic owner Eggert Magnusson a rapturous welcome, the Boleyn Ground faithful witnessed Alan Pardew’s men score the only goal of the game through Hayden Mullins' header on 36 minutes. The visitors put on a strong performance in the second half and were dealt a late blow when Robert Kozluk's goal was disallowed in the last minute.

Doyle penalty
Reading continued their fine progress in the top-flight with a third consecutive Premiership win in a match which also produced just one goal. Republic of Ireland international Kevin Doyle dusted himself down to convert from the penalty spot after he had been brought down in the area by Ian Pearce on 18 minutes - a misdemeanour for which the veteran Fulham FC defender was sent off. Fulham put up a good fight in the second half and almost equalised twice through Brian McBride but Doyle came closest to scoring again when he was denied by Antti Niemi two minutes from time.

Score draws
Elsewhere in the Premiership there were 1-1 draws between both Aston Villa FC and Middlesbrough FC and Charlton Athletic FC and Everton FC. Malcolm Christie's 43rd-minute strike for Gareth Southgate's side was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by a Gareth Barry penalty while at Goodison Park Andy Reid's spectacular strike gave bottom side Charlton a much-needed point against seventh-placed Everton, who took the lead through Hermann Hreidarsson's own goal.