Liverpool prepared for the Champions League semifinals by beating Fulham 2-0 on Saturday while Arsenal restored some pride by beating Reading 2-0.
LONDON: Liverpool prepared for the Champions League semifinals by beating Fulham 2-0 on Saturday while Arsenal restored some pride by beating Reading 2-0.
In the fight to avoid relegation to the Championship, Bolton Wanderers hauled themselves out of the drop zone with a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough. Meanwhile, hosts Wigan drew 1-1 with Tottenham and West Ham beat visitors Derby 2-1.
League leaders Manchester United will take a giant stride towards retaining their title if they beat Blackburn Rovers, who never give visiting sides an easy ride at Ewood Park. United’s lead at the top of the Premier League was cut to two points by Chelsea after the Blues won 1-0 away to Everton on Thursday. But victory over Blackburn — managed by former Red Devils striker Mark Hughes — would see Sir Alex Ferguson’s Champions League semifinalists go five points clear with three games remaining.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, with one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg at home to Chelsea, fielded a weakened side at relegation-threatened Fulham but nonetheless claimed a 2-0 win. In last season’s corresponding fixture at this stage of the season, Benitez rested regulars at Craven Cottage ahead of more important Champions League games. Fulham won 1-0, triggering their escape from the relegation trouble.
Benitez repeated the same gamble, making eight changes, and this time it paid off. Winger Jermaine Pennant scored in the 17th minute following a Leiva Lucas pass from the right. Pennant created the second goal in the 70th minute, crossing in from the right for England striker Peter Crouch to finish, though Cottagers goalkeeper Kasey Keller should have done better.
Fourth-placed Liverpool need two more points to be certain of earning a Champions League qualifying place via the league, while Fulham are five points from safety with three games remaining.
The Cottagers’ relegation fight rivals Bolton gave their chances of avoiding the drop a big boost with an impressive 1-0 win at Middlesbrough. Gavin McCann, once capped for England, finished off a simple tap-in in the 61st minute at the Riverside Stadium. Bolton are one point and two places above the drop zone.
Third-placed Arsenal, out of the title race and trophyless this season, at least gave their fans something to cheer with a 2-0 win over the Royals. United beat Arsenal 2-1 last Sunday, a result which killed off the Gunners’ hopes of winning the title, leaving only themselves and Chelsea in the hunt.
But back at Emirates Stadium, Emmanuel Adebayor scored in the 30th minute with an assured finish, before Gilberto fired in a deflected shot eight minutes later.
“Today was important for pride, for the fans, for ourselves,” Gunners midfielder Francesc Fabregas said. “We are all disappointed for the season, how it finished. I think we did pretty well all season but at the end it was disappointing. We needed a performance like this to try to finish as best we can. We don’t want to always say ‘next year, next year’. I think it is a mistake. We want to do it now.”
Reading drop to one point and one place above the relegation zone, with the team below them, Birmingham City, having a game in hand. Wigan Athletic were held to a 1-1 draw by visitors Tottenham Hotspur at the JJB Stadium, though the hosts could have done with a victory to quash their relegation fears. Tottenham’s Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov, who could leave White Hart Lane once the season ends, scored in the sixth minute. Emile Heskey scored a shock injury-time equaliser to earn Wigan a 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Monday and it was the former England striker who equalised against Spurs, six minutes after Berbatov’s opener. The League Cup holders were unlucky not to get a first-half penalty when Latics captain Mario Melchiot pulled down Berbatov in the box. Rock-bottom Derby County have won just one league game all season and there was little chance of making that two at Upton Park as West Ham earned a 2-1 win. —AFP
The hosts’ Bobby Zamora had not scored since April 21 last year but he headed the Hammers into the lead in the 20th minute. Defender Tyrone Mears showed great pace and coolness to equalise in the 65th minute but Carlton Cole scored from two yards out 12 minutes later to consign relegated Derby to their 26th league defeat of the season.
In Sunday’s fixtures, Birmingham travel to city rivals Aston Villa, Newcastle host Sunderland in the north-east derby, while FA Cup finalists Portsmouth visit Manchester City in their quest for a UEFA Cup spot.
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