Premier League round-up: Wins for Top Three as Arsenal held
| Liverpool |
|  |
| 3 - 0 |  | | Bolton |
|
| Albert Riera 26 |
|
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| Robbie Keane 53 |
|
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| Robbie Keane 58 |
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Robbie Keane scored twice in a 3-0 home victory over Bolton as
Liverpool made sure ended 2008 unbeaten on their own pitch.
Reds boss Rafa Benítez was back after being struck down with kidney stones a fortnight ago, albeit watching alongside Rick Parry in the directors’ box while Sammy Lee barked out instructions from the touchline.
Liverpool hadn’t lost at home on Boxing Day for 22 years, while the Trotters hadn’t won there since 1954. It was a record that never looked likely to change.
The home side put the opposition under intense pressure from the kick off and took the lead when Albert Riera flicked home a Steven Gerrard corner on 26 minutes.
Keane, who scored only his third league goal of the season at Arsenal at the weekend, proved his class with a brace after the break.
First, he blasted past Jussi Jääskeläinen after being played through by Gerrard in the 53rd minute.
Five minutes later, he tapped home his second of the night after a lightning counter which began with Pepe Reina, went through Xabi Alonso and saw Yossi Benayoun slide over the final pass.
| Stoke |
|  |
| 0 - 1 |  | | Man United |
|
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| Carlos Tévez 83
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Manchester United returned from the Club World Cup triumph to snatch a victory over 10-man Stoke, although they had to wait until seven minutes from the end to hit the winner at the Britannia Stadium.
The home side saw Andy Wilkinson dismissed after 72 minutes for bringing down Cristiano Ronaldo, which inevitably resulted in his second yellow card of the match.
It was a moment of sheer madness by a man who had picked up a first-half booking for a foul on Ryan Giggs.
And United finally struck the winner when Carlos Tévez turned home only his second Premier League goal of the season after good work from Gary Neville and substitute Dimitar Berbatov.
| Chelsea |
|  |
| 2 - 0 |  |
| West Brom |
|
| Didier Drogba 3 |
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| Frank Lampard 45 |
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Didier Drogba bagged his first Premier League goal of the campaign in what was only his second start to help Chelsea to a 2-0 win over West Brom at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues started with both Nicolas Anelka and Drogba for the first time this season and the Ivorian striker gave his side the perfect start as he headed home Joe Cole's cross with just three minutes on the clock.
Frank Lampard then doubled the advantage on the stroke of half time when his picked up on Ashley Cole's deflected shot to dink the ball over the despairing Scott Carson.
Drogba then had a shot well saved by Carson before his follow-up was blocked by Paul Robinson.
The fans clapped Drogba off when he was substituted and the embattled Robinson shook his hand as he left.
 |
Aston Villa players celebrate a late leveler against Arsenal
Photo credit: AP Photo/PA, Malcolm Couzens |
| Aston Villa |
|  |
| 2 - 2 |  | | Arsenal |
|
| Gareth Barry(pen) 65 |
| Denilson 40
|
| Zat Knight 90 |
| Abou Diaby 49
|
Zat Knight scored an injury-time equaliser for Aston Villa as Arsenal tossed away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Villa Park.
The home side were full of verve and running, the confidence-boosting consequence of going six matches unbeaten.
They hit the woodwork three times in the first half but went behind in the 40th minute when Nigel Reo-Coker was caught in possession by Denilson, who held off Steve Sidwell and drove the ball past Brad Friedel.
And only an amazing overhead clearance on the line from Bacary Sagna preserved Arsenal’s lead after Gabriel Agbonlahor’s looping header had beaten Manuel Almunia.
Four minutes into the second half, the Gunners increased the lead as Abou Diaby started and finished a move which also involved a powerful run by Emmanuel Eboue.
Arsenal could have sealed the victory in the 55th minute but Robin van Persie hit a post.
Villa threw everything at Arsenal in order to find a way back into the match, and just past the hour William Gallas brought down Agbonlahor in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Skipper Gareth Barry stepped up to set the way for a thrilling finale.
And it was a fiery end to a pulsating encounter as in injury-time, Stilian Petrov’s cross was touched on by Barry and Knight, in for the injured Martin Laursen, lashed home the leveler.
Elsewhere in Premier League on Saturday:
| Portsmouth |
|  |
| 1 - 4 |  | | West Ham |
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| Tottenham |
|  |
| 0 - 0 |  |
| Fulham |
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| Man City |
|  |
| 5 - 1 |  | | Hull |
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| Middlesbrough |
|  |
| 0 - 1 |  |
| Everton |
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| Sunderland |
|  |
| 0 - 0 |  |
| Blackburn |
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| Wigan |
|  |
| 2 - 1 |  |
| Newcastle |
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