Benayoun boosts Liverpool's title ambitions
Saturday, April 4, 2009
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Yossi Benayoun's stoppage-time winner enabled Liverpool FC to win 1-0 at Fulham FC and leap to the Premier League summit, although Chelsea FC are three points adrift in third after a 2-0 success at Newcastle United FC.
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Yossi Benayoun's late winner enabled Liverpool FC to win 1-0 at Fulham FC and leap to the Premier League summit, although Chelsea FC are three points adrift in third after a 2-0 success at Newcastle United FC.
First-half dominance
Liverpool laid siege to the Fulham penalty area in the opening 45 minutes but were denied by the frame of the goal on no less than four occasions with Andrea Dossena (twice), Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres all frustrated. The home side appeared to have ridden their luck until second-half stoppage time when substitute Benayoun drilled in a dramatic winner. Rafael Benítez's side are two points clear of Manchester United FC, who host Aston Villa FC on Sunday, but have played two games more.
Lampard influence
Chelsea kept pace at the top with a confident display at St James' Park. Alan Shearer was appointed manager by Newcastle until the end of the season on Wednesday with the club rooted in the bottom three but any hopes of an immediate impact were dashed during the second half. Frank Lampard opened the scoring with a close-range header on 56 minutes after Nicolas Anelka's deflected shot had struck the crossbar and the points were secured nine minutes later when Florent Malouda fired in Lampard's pass.
Relegation issues
Fourth-placed Arsenal FC have a six-point buffer on Aston Villa after Emmanuel Adebayor scored early in either half to seal a 2-0 win against Manchester City FC while West Ham United FC boosted their hopes of UEFA Europa League qualification thanks to a 2-0 success at home to Sunderland AFC, the visitors now three points above the bottom three in 17th. Elsewhere, it was a good day for the other sides hoping to pull away from the relegation zone. Stoke City FC won 2-0 at bottom side West Bromwich Albion FC, Blackburn Rovers FC beat ten-man Tottenham Hotspur FC 2-1 and Bolton Wanderers FC convincingly dispatched second-bottom Middlesbrough FC 4-1. Finally, Hull City AFC and Portsmouth FC edged a point nearer survival after a goalless draw at the KC Stadium.