Ramsey and Hopkins stops Podolski shine Shumenov in Arsenal18 stroll 19 MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014 Boston Marathon looks to shake shadow of bombing Page 19 NORWICH: Liverpool’s English midfielder Raheem Sterling (right) grips the ball after being fouled by Norwich City’s Scottish defender Steven Whittaker during the English Premier League football match. —AFP Sterling keeps Reds on title path and have two games in hand, but Liverpool the lead in sensational style through Sterling, ing over to end an excellent move that had once he realised that an advantage was being know that a first title since 1990 will be theirs who celebrated it by running to the touchline seen Suarez find Coutinho with a 60-yard played. Norwich 2 even if they draw with Chelsea, provided they and hugging Rodgers. crossfield ball, but suddenly, in the 54th Robert Snodgrass, Nathan Redmond and win their two other fixtures. Raheem Sterling The winger received the ball from Philippe minute, Norwich were back in it. Russell Martin all came close to Norwich scored two of Liverpool’s goals at Carrow Road, Coutinho and used his skill to slip past Bradley Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was to blame, replies before Snodgrass headed home Martin with Luis Suarez bringing his total for the sea- Johnson before unleashing a 25-yard drive flapping at a cross under pressure from Olsson’s cross with 13 minutes remaining. Liverpool 3 son to 30 with the other. that deflected off defender Michael Turner on Johnson, and Hooper got there before Norwich instantly made a double substitu- The result was a huge setback for the home its way past goalkeeper John Ruddy. Mamadou Sakho to put the ball into the empty tion, sending on attackers Van Wolfswinkel and side, who remain out of the relegation places Norwich replied with a Hooper header that net for his first goal since December 26. That Josh Murphy, with Rodgers responding by but are in danger of being overtaken by any of cleared the bar, but it was not long before woke Liverpool up and Suarez fired a good swapping Allen for extra defender Daniel NORWICH: Liverpool nervously edged closer the three clubs below them. Ruddy had to make a smart stop to deny Allen. chance across goal before Sterling restored Agger. to a first league title in the Premier League era There were two changes to the Liverpool Goal number two was coming and this time their two-goal cushion in the 62nd minute in The home side threw men forward and with a nail-biting 3-2 success over Norwich City side that beat Manchester City 3-2 last week, Sterling was the provider in the 11th minute, circumstances that Johnson will not want to Mignolet had to get down to keep out van at Carrow Road yesterday. with Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen replacing the sending in a low cross from the left for Suarez remember. The Norwich midfielder gifted pos- Wolfswinkel’s header, but they were relieved Brendan Rodgers’s side now boast a five- suspended Jordan Henderson and Daniel to poke home his 12th goal in just five games session to the Liverpool man with a square when Suarez unselfishly set up Lucas, who saw point advantage over second-place Chelsea, Sturridge, who has a hamstring injury. Norwich against the Canaries. pass, but managed to get back to block his his first effort saved by Ruddy and then put the who had surprisingly lost 2-1 at home to bot- had lost 1-0 at relegation rivals Fulham the pre- Liverpool survived a goal-mouth scramble resulting shot, only to see it loop up over rebound wide. tom club Sunderland on Saturday and who will vious weekend and made a single change, up involving Hooper and Leroy Fer, but the fluidity Ruddy and land in the net. Ruddy then went up for a free-kick, but be their next opponents at Anfield next front, with Gary Hooper coming in for Ricky of their passing and their movement off the Fer was fortunate not to be booked for a the final whistle confirmed that Liverpool Sunday. van Wolfswinkel. ball meant that they remained in the ascen- late tackle on Suarez, who went down clutch- had hung on to bank three more precious Manchester City are also in the equation It took Liverpool just four minutes to take dancy. The second half began with Sterling fir- ing his leg but suddenly sprang from the turf points. —AFP EPL results/standings Everton 2 (Baines 28-pen, Mirallas 43) Manchester Everton punish United United 0; Hull City 0 Arsenal 3 (Ramsey 31, Podolski 45, 54); Norwich City 2 (Hooper 54, Snodgrass 77) Liverpool 3 (Sterling 4, 62, Suarez 11). matches remaining after only a third win over United in 19 league matches at Playing today Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion Everton 2 Goodison Park. Everton played with the greater incision from the start, with Liverpool 35 25 5 5 96 44 80 Seamus Coleman bounding forward Chelsea 35 23 6 6 67 26 75 from right-back at every opportunity. Man United 0 An early cross towards Mirallas was Man City 33 22 5 6 88 34 71 glanced away by Chris Smalling and Arsenal 35 21 7 7 62 41 70 Ross Barkley lifted a shot over from the rebound. Phil Jones then did well to Everton 35 20 9 6 57 34 69 LIVERPOOL: Manchester United man- block efforts from Romelu Lukaku and Tottenham 35 19 6 10 51 49 63 ager David Moyes tasted defeat on his Coleman as Everton began to dominate. first return to Everton since leaving the Man Utd 34 17 6 11 56 40 57 The hosts had a penalty appeal club as his side were beaten 2-0 in the turned down when Jonny Evans threw Southampton 35 13 10 12 50 45 49 Premier League yesterday. himself at Steven Naismith’s effort, Moyes was greeted with a smatter- Newcastle 35 14 4 17 39 54 46 before the Everton player wasted a fine ing of boos as he walked out of the tun- opportunity when he thumped over Stoke 35 11 11 13 39 49 44 nel before the match, but it was the loss, from Lukaku’s flick. Crystal Palace 35 13 4 18 28 41 43 which definitively ended United’s hopes With Juan Mata, Shinji Kagawa and of qualifying for the Champions League, Nani-making his first start since West Ham 35 10 7 18 38 48 37 that will trouble him more. December 7 — playing behind Wayne Swansea 35 9 9 17 47 51 36 Before Liverpool’s 3-2 win at Norwich Rooney, United were listless as an City earlier in the day, United had boast- Hull 34 10 6 18 34 43 36 attacking force. ed the best away record in the division, From a spell of attacking possession Aston Villa 34 9 8 17 35 49 35 but they were swept aside by Roberto for the visitors, Everton broke quickly Martinez’s effervescent Everton team. LIVERPOOL: Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Rooney (center) in action during the English Premier West Brom 33 6 15 12 40 51 33 and after Jones slipped, he stuck out an League football match against Everton at Goodison Park. — AFP Leighton Baines, a United transfer arm to block Lukaku’s curling shot, Norwich 35 8 8 19 28 56 32 target until he signed a new long-term obliging referee Mark Clattenburg to Tim Howard was finally worked in Kagawa’s low drive was held at the sec- scored a third at the other end, the Scot Cardiff 35 7 9 19 31 65 30 deal earlier this year, opened the scoring award a penalty. first-half added time when a Rooney ond attempt by Howard. Alcaraz might missing from a good position after with a 28th-minute penalty and Kevin Baines guided the spot-kick down corner hit Sylvain Distin and the Everton have done better when he could only being picked out by Mirallas. Fulham 35 9 3 23 35 77 30 Mirallas added a second goal shortly the middle for his sixth goal of the sea- goalkeeper was forced into a save. make weak contact with a free header Naismith went closer when he was Sunderland 34 7 8 19 33 57 29 before half-time. son. After that, Everton soaked up more Everton lost Distin to injury at the from a Mirallas corner. fed by Coleman and had a curling shot A United comeback never looked aimless play from United and doubled break and the visitors immediately After Kagawa headed straight at pushed past the post by United goal- likely as Moyes’s beleaguered side their advantage just before the interval. showed more threat, although substi- Howard from Buttner’s deep cross, keeper David de Gea after a quick break. Note: Top four teams qualify for next sea- slipped to their 10th defeat of 2014 in all Baines won the ball from Mata and tute Antolin Alcaraz did well to deny Moyes tried to shake his team up by Rooney had an effort palmed away competitions and their 11th loss of the Rooney a shooting chance after the bringing on Antonio Valancia at right- by Howard in the closing stages, but son’s Champions League; fifth-place team Naismith knocked the ball out to the league campaign. right for Coleman. The Irishman slipped United captain had turned away from back and also throwing on striker Javier United were well beaten and Everton qualifies for Europa League; bottom three But Everton, who won 1-0 at Old a pass through for Mirallas, who was John Stones inside the area.