Brief reports of English
Premier League games played over the weekend:

Played on Sunday:

LIVERPOOL 3 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1

Liverpool took a firm grip on fourth place with a convincing
victory.

Steven Gerrard, playing in his 300th league match, opened
the scoring after 60 minutes and provided the cross for Fernando
Torres to score his 30th goal of the season and make it 2-0.

Andriy Voronin, on as late substitute, then scored with a
tap-in to make it 3-0 in the 90th minute before Roque Santa Cruz
volleyed in a consolation for Rovers in stoppage time.

- - -

MANCHESTER UNITED 2 ARSENAL 1

United came from behind to secure a victory that edges them
closer to the title and condemns Arsenal to a third successive
barren season.

Emmanuel Adebayor put a lively Arsenal ahead early in the
second half when he scored with his arm but United levelled five
minutes later with a twice-taken Cristiano Ronaldo penalty after
William Gallas handled.

The champions, now six points clear, got the winner in the
72nd minute with a free kick by Owen Hargreaves.

----

Played on Saturday:

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 EVERTON 1

Birmingham put on an impressive display and were unlucky not
to beat an Everton team running out of steam and resources.

Birmingham's Cameron Jerome hit the post and Tim Howard kept
Everton in the game with two great saves before the visitors
snatched the lead with a Joleon Lescott header after 78 minutes.

Birmingham grabbed a point with a lovely free kick by
Argentine substitute Mauro Zarate five minutes later.

----

BOLTON WANDERERS 1 WEST HAM UNITED 0

A huge win for Bolton, their first for six weeks, keeps
their survival hopes alive.

Kevin Davies, who had two headers cleared off the line in
the first half, got the only goal two minutes after the restart
with a close-range shot.

----

DERBY COUNTY 0 ASTON VILLA 6

Derby's woeful season continues but they were not helped by
goalkeeper Roy Carroll, who gifted Villa three first-half goals.

Ashley Young's free kick went through Carroll's hands before
John Carew and Stilian Petrov returned poor clearances straight
past the keeper into the back of the net. Petrov struck his
effort home from 45 metres.

Gareth Barry, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Marlon Harewood
completed the rout in the second half to keep Villa in the hunt
for a UEFA Cup slot and Derby (11 points) on course to finish
with the worst points haul since the Premier League started.

----

PORTSMOUTH 0 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0

Two teams in good form scoring lots of goals produced an
unexpected stalemate in Saturday's late game although FA Cup
finalists Portsmouth, still pushing for a UEFA Cup place via the
league, had the best chances.

Most fell to striker Jermain Defoe who was wide with two
efforts and also denied by Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper
while at the other end David James made a spectacular save with
his head to keep out a Michael Owen shot.

----

READING 0 FULHAM 2

Fulham's first away win since September 2006 gave them some
hope of avoiding the drop and it was an accomplished performance
that dragged Reading right back into the relegation mix.

American Brian McBride put Fulham ahead early on and for
once the Londoners did not blow their lead, instead doubling it
in injury time through Norwegian striker Erik Nevland after
hitting the bar three times in the second half.

----

SUNDERLAND 1 MANCHESTER CITY 2

City did little but won a poor game with a Darius Vassell
goal three minutes from time.

The visitors went ahead with a 79th minute Elano penalty but
a rare strike by Dean Whitehead brought the scores level before
Vassell came off the bench to get the winner.

----

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1

Middlesbrough edged further towards safety with a point to
continue their good run.

Spurs went ahead when nice skill by Dimitar Berbatov set up
Aaron Lennon to shoot, with Jonathan Grounds diverting the ball
into his own goal after 27 minutes.

Stewart Downing equalised with a rare right-footed shot in
the second half, although it took a deflection off Spurs
midfielder Jermaine Jenas.

Playing on Monday

CHELSEA v WIGAN ATHLETIC     (1900)