SPORTS MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014 Everton thrash Arsenal to keep European dream alive Everton 3 Arsenal 0 LIVERPOOL: Everton struck a huge blow in the battle to qualify for the Champions League with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Arsenal at Goodison Park yesterday. LONDON: Liverpool’s English midfielder Steven Gerrard (right) celebrates with Strikers Steven Naismith and Romelu Lukaku Liverpool’s English midfielder Raheem Sterling (left) after scoring the opening goal both scored for Everton in the first half, while from a penalty during the English Premier League football match against West Ham Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta added a third United. — AFP with an own-goal in the second period in a match the home side dominated. The result Liverpool back on top meant fifth-placed Everton closed the gap on Arsene Wenger’s side in fourth place to just a after controversial win single point, and the Toffees also have a Premier League game in hand over their London rivals. Everton manager Roberto Martinez handed next Sunday. Liverpool are in red-hot form, win- Naismith, who impressed from the bench ning their last nine matches to prove their title credentials, and they held their nerve impres- against Fulham last time out, a place in the start- West Ham 1 sively after West Ham’s contentious equaliser. ing line-up ahead of Ross Barkley while Kevin “There were bad decisions both for and Mirallas was preferred to Gerard Deulofeu. LONDON: Everton’s English defender John Stones (left) slides in to tackle Arsenal’s Polish-born against us but we were clearly the better team,” Arsenal had Aaron Ramsey back in their German striker Lukas Podolski (right) during the English Premier League football match at Rodgers said. “The referee came out after the squad for the first time since December after his Goodison Park. — AFP Liverpool 2 game and said he got it wrong for their goal and recovery from a thigh injury but he had to settle I think the second penalty was a penalty. The for a place among the substitutes while Nacho RELENTLESS PRESSURE them and their desire was reflected in the man- keeper gets a slight touch on it but he then Monreal started in place of Kieran Gibbs, who Everton’s pressure on the Arsenal goal was ner of the third goal shortly after the hour mark. LONDON: Liverpool moved a step closer to the brings down Flanagan.” While it was the officials had an ankle injury, at left-back. relentless and Barkley drew a smart save on the Mirallas stole possession off Sagna on the Premier League title in controversial fashion as who eventually stole the spotlight, all the focus Leon Osman signalled Everton’s intent and half-hour mark from Szczesny before Mirallas halfway line and headed towards the Arsenal Steven Gerrard’s penalty sealed a 2-1 victory at before kick-off was on Liverpool’s in-form for- went close with a curling effort from distance, had the Poland international scrambling across goal where he found Naismith with an intelli- West Ham and capped a miserable afternoon for wards. Luis Suarez has been unstoppable in which had Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech his goal shortly afterwards with a low shot from gent pass. referee Anthony Taylor yesterday. recent weeks and the Uruguayan was quickly Szczesny worried, that just went over the cross- distance. Naismith saw his path to goal blocked by Gerrard fired Liverpool back to the top of the into his stride once again. He curled a free-kick bar. Osman, named Everton captain for the day, Arsenal’s rearguard was eventually breached Szczesny, but the ball popped free and Mirallas, table after Brendan Rodgers’ side were given a just over the crossbar from 30 yards in the third was forced off moments later with a nasty cut on for a second time by on-loan Chelsea striker who had continued his run into the penalty area, dubious second half spot-kick by Taylor, who had minute and went even closer 16 minutes later. his face after Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna Lukaku who notched his 12th Premier League battled Arteta - a former Everton player - in the earlier allowed Guy Demel’s equaliser for West West Ham’s defenders switched off at a landed on him and was replaced by Barkley. goal of the season in the 34th minute. scramble which ultimately saw the Arsenal mid- Ham despite a clear foul on Reds goalkeeper throw-in and Suarez alertly seized possession But despite his absence the Toffees zipped The Belgium international received a cross- fielder inadvertently push it into his own net. before lofting the ball goalwards, only to see his Simon Mignolet. the ball about with confidence and a slick move field pass on the right flank and skipped past From that point there was no way back for effort rebound to safety off the bar. Liverpool captain Gerrard had given his side Arsenal defenders Monreal and Thomas Arsenal although a run from Alex Oxlade- Rodgers’ men had only failed to score in two in the 14th minute allowed Naismith to put the the lead in the first half with another penalty Vermaelen before he struck a powerful shot into Chamberlain, introduced for Podolski in the 66th which was far less debatable and his second league games this season and they kept their hosts ahead. the corner. Arsenal briefly flickered into life minute, saw him rattle the crossbar with a spec- spot-kick took him past Kenny Dalglish on the nerve to take the lead in the 44th minute. A teasing ball into the area from left-back all-time list of Liverpool goal-scorers. A far more Inevitably, Suarez was the catalyst for the break- Leighton Baines found Lukaku who saw his shot before the interval and Lukas Podolski’s shot was tacular effort. significant Dalglish-related milestone is now in through as he split the defence to reach Gerrard’s from near the penalty spot parried by Szczesny, acrobatically tipped over the crossbar by Tim But it was Everton who finished the stronger sight as Gerrard’s double means Liverpool are brilliant long pass and cleverly flicked the ball but Naismith was quickest to react and confi- Howard in the Everton goal. of the two sides with Barkley, Baines and substi- just five wins away from being crowned English back past James Tomkins, who instinctively stuck dently placed the ball into the corner of the Wenger’s side began the second period in a tutes Deulofeu and Aiden McGeady all threaten- champions for the first time since the Scot led out an arm to block. Taylor awarded the penalty unguarded net. determined fashion but Everton simply matched ing with runs into the box. — AFP them to the title in 1990. The Reds are two points and Gerrard stepped up to calmly send Adrian clear of second placed Chelsea and four ahead of the wrong way from the spot. Yet Liverpool’s lead third placed Manchester City, who have two lasted just minutes as the hosts drew level in the games in hand but face Rodgers’ team at Anfield most bizarre circumstances. —AFP EPL results/standings Everton 3 (Naismith 14, Lukaku 34, Arteta Playing today 62-og) Arsenal 0; West Ham 1 (Demel 45) Tottenham v Sunderland Liverpool 2 (Gerrard 44-pen, 71-pen). English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Liverpool 33 23 5 5 90 40 74 Crystal Palace 32 10 4 18 23 39 34 Chelsea 33 22 6 5 65 24 72 Swansea 33 8 9 16 45 49 33 Man City 31 22 4 5 84 29 70 West Brom 32 6 14 12 37 48 32 Arsenal 33 19 7 7 56 40 64 Norwich 33 8 8 17 26 52 32 Everton 32 18 9 5 52 31 63 Fulham 33 8 3 22 33 74 27 Man Utd 33 17 6 10 56 38 57 Tottenham 32 17 5 10 40 44 56 Cardiff 33 6 8 19 29 6426 Southampton 33 13 9 11 50 44 48 Sunderland 30 6 7 17 28 48 25 Newcastle 33 14 4 15 38 51 46 Stoke 33 10 10 13 37 48 40 Notes: Top four teams qualify for next West Ham 33 10 7 16 37 44 37 season’s Champions League; fifth-place Hull 33 10 6 17 34 40 36 team qualifies for Europa League; bottom Aston Villa 32 9 7 16 35 48 34 three teams relegated to Championship. Toulon dismiss Leinster PARIS: Defending champions Toulon ran out sad moment for the sport, but I also respect his comfortable 29-14 winners over three-time for- decision as he leaves at the top”. mer champions Leinster yesterday to set up a The fly-half, who kicked England to victory European Cup semi-final against Munster. over Australia in extra-time in the 2003 World In a scene set for a match-up between two Cup final, expressed hope that he could bounce of rugby union’s greatest players in Jonny back from his injury in time for the semi-final. Wilkinson and Brian O’Driscoll, the English fly- “I have had this hamstring problem for the half limped off injured before the half-hour and past two weeks and felt it immediately when I the Irish centre’s attacking prowess was snuffled went for that ball in the 28th minute,” he said. out by a ferocious Toulon midfield. “I’ll take it day by day and hour by hour as I Toulon will now face Munster, 47-23 quarter- would love to play Munster and also the end of final winners over Toulouse, at Marseille’s Stade the season is the most important for us.” Velodrome on April 27.