Liverpool Cruise to Second Place
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Crystal Palace’s Southampton revival19 continues frustrate19 City SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013 Trapped footballer puts spotlight on GCC ‘abuse’ Page 17 LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s English midfielder Steven Gerrard (left) is tackled by West Ham United’s English midfielder Mark Noble (center) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Ham United yesterday. — AFP Liverpool cruise to second place Sakho effort putting Liverpool 2-0 effort sailed harmlessly over West deflect away what looked like a cer- a rare victory were compromised fur- against the run of play, West Ham ahead. Ham’s goal. The Hammers have not tain goal. Liverpool have only lost ther just two minutes into the second were gifted a way back into the game Liverpool 4 Suarez was also the instigator for won at Anfield since 1963, but they once at home this season, but they half. Steven Gerrard swung in a deep with 25 minutes remaining as Demel’s the fourth goal, as his effort was had a chance to take a surprise early showed rare signs of vulnerability at free-kick that Sakho turned goalwards cross was headed back across goal by turned in by Joey O’Brien late on for lead in the ninth minute when the back and goalkeeper Mignolet and despite West Ham defender Matthew Jarvis and Skrtel toed it into the third own goal of the encounter. Mohamed Diame threaded through a had to pull off a good save to deny James Collins’s best attempt at a swip- his own goal. West Ham 1 Coupled with Chelsea’s defeat at ball for Modibo Maiga, but the for- Maiga in the 20th minute. As the ing clearance, the ball went over the But Suarez would finally get his Stoke City and Manchester City’s 1-1 ward could not get his toe on the end game settled down, so did West Ham’s line. goal with nine minutes remaining as draw at Southampton, the victory lift- of it. Liverpool’s response was pre- defence and Sam Allardyce’s men Jaaskelainen was not facing severe he powered in Johnson’s cross with LIVERPOOL: Luis Suarez inspired ed Brendan Rodgers’s side into sec- dictable, with a sublime pass from were doing a good job of blocking up pressure as West Ham’s resilience his head to restore Liverpool’s two- Liverpool to a 4-1 victory over West ond place, above Chelsea on goal dif- Philippe Coutinho finding Suarez, but the midfield and limiting their hosts appeared to be broken, but the West goal advantage. It killed off West Ham United at Anfield yesterday that ference. Following his four-goal spec- for once this season his finishing let to long-range attempts. Ham goalkeeper got down well to Ham’s hopes of nicking a point and sent his side up to second place in the tacular in Wednesday’s 5-1 demolition him down and West Ham goalkeeper Liverpool found an opening just deny Coutinho just before the hour the visitors then saw captain Kevin Premier League table. The Uruguayan of Norwich City, and after Friday’s Jussi Jaaskelainen comfortably saved. before the break, however, as Glen mark. Sterling should have added a Nolan sent off for raking his studs striker got his 14th Premier League World Cup draw paired England with The hosts were quick to attack Johnson nodded down for Suarez, third when Jordan Henderson down Henderson’s calf. Suarez was goal of the season to kill off the game Uruguay in Group D, all eyes were from a Simon Mignolet throw as who fired goalwards. Jaaskelainen unselfishly dragged the ball back into not finished though, as he bamboo- after Martin Skrtel’s own goal had giv- inevitably on Suarez. Raheem Sterling was sent free down was able to save, but Demel inadver- his path, but he scuffed his effort over zled George McCartney on the edge en the Hammers hope despite a Guy The former Ajax hitman posed an the wing to cross for Jordan tently bundled the rebound over his from about 12 yards out; much to the of the area before firing in off the Demel own goal and a Mamadou early threat for the Reds, but a lofted Henderson, but Diame raced back to own line. West Ham’s hopes of getting frustration of the home fans. Then, thigh of O’Brien. — AFP United sink further Assaidi’s rocket could only shoot straight at Krul. After a surging run down the left grounds Chelsea Man Utd 0 flank from Patrice Evra, Tom Cleverley had shots blocked by Fabricio come off, with Stephen Ireland replacing him. Coloccini and Mike Williamson as the Stoke did their best to respond, but visitors struggled to clear. Pardew’s Chelsea’s powerful midfield, with Eden Hazard Stoke 3 Newcastle 1 side threatened for the first time once more catching the eye, held sway as the when Loic Remy glanced a header visitors sought to extend their lead. Juan Mata wide of goal from Moussa Sissoko’s might have done better when a half-cleared MANCHESTER: Yohan Cabaye’s goal cross. France midfielder Cabaye also free-kick fell to him on the edge of the penalty earned Newcastle United a 1-0 victory dragged wide of David de Gea’s goal Chelsea 2 area, but he shot straight into the arms of Begovic, while Hazard’s measured low cross into yesterday that consigned Manchester after he was picked out by a pass United to a second consecutive home the six-yard box passed a foot in front of the from Cheick Tiote. STOKE-ON-TRENT: Chelsea’s bid for a fourth loss for the first time in 11 years. The onrushing Fernando Torres. As the Old Trafford crowd grew consecutive Premier League win fell dramatical- When Marko Arnautovic did launch a centre loss to Alan Pardew’s side-the first frustrated with Moyes’s side’s lack of ly short as they lost 3-2 in a thrilling game into the Chelsea area, Jonathan Walters won the time Newcastle have won at Old creativity, Newcastle broke quickly, against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium yes- ball at the far post, but his header failed to trou- Trafford since 1972 - was the champi- with Sissoko slipping the ball inside terday. Substitute Oussama Assaidi claimed the ble Cech. However, Stoke’s persistence paid off ons’ fifth of the campaign and leaves for Cabaye, whose long-range effort winning goal in the last minute after Stoke had in the 42nd minute, albeit with the aid of an manager David Moyes under increas- looped up off Cleverley and dropped recovered from a goal down to lead 2-1, only for unexpected lapse from Cech. The Czech goal- ing pressure to turn their season just over the bar. Tiote also surged Andre Schurrle to draw Jose Mourinho’s men keeper hesitated and stopped when Arnautovic around. After the 1-0 defeat by forward and had a shot over from dis- level with his second goal of the game. Assaidi, flighted in a corner from the left and Crouch Everton in mid-week, Moyes insisted tance, while the home side had a who had been on the pitch for only five min- was able to collect and turn before squeezing a that his team could still close the 12- penalty appeal turned down when utes, turned Branislav Ivanovic on the edge of shot between two defenders. point gap to leaders Arsenal. Hernandez went down theatrically in the area before despatching an unstoppable Crouch’s celebration showed his delight at shot beyond visiting goalkeeper Petr Cech. But while he will continue to put the area after Coloccini pulled out of only his second league goal of the season on his The shock defeat for Chelsea offers league ninth start. There was even more to shout about on a brave face in public, Moyes must a challenge. be concerned by the lacklustre leaders Arsenal the chance to extend their lead in the home ranks five minutes into the second Mathieu Debuchy also went close at the top to seven points by beating Everton nature of his team’s performances, as half as Stoke took the lead through Ireland. on two occasions just before the on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium. Stoke had Walters found room on the right flank following well as their poor results. Robin van break. The France right-back was never beaten Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium a long kick by Begovic and his pass inside to Persie returned from a month out found by Remy with a neat pass in MANCHESTER: UnitedÅfs Patrice Evra wipes his face as he walks from in 10 previous Premier League meetings, and Ireland saw the former Aston Villa man beat with a groin problem, but was given behind the home defense, but was the pitch after his teamÅfs 1-0 defeat to Newcastle yesterday. — AP their hopes of changing that statistic were dent- Cech with a fine effort that went in off the post. little service from a midfield four that denied by a save from De Gea, who to hit Vurnon Anita’s hand before hosts looked for a way back, but ed as early as the ninth minute. John Mikel Obi, However, the celebrations had barely subsided was completely changed from the repelled a firm header from the same being cleared. Newcastle appeared to Hatem Ben Arfa drove over from starting the game in place of Frank Lampard fol- when Chelsea levelled three minutes later. Everton defeat. Cabaye finished off a player moments later.