Liverpool stay top after Keane double

London, (ANTARA News) - Liverpool beat Bolton Wanderers 3-0 on Friday, Robbie Keane scoring twice to help the Premier League leaders reach the halfway point of the season a point clear of Chelsea.

Chelsea briefly went top when they beat bottom club West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in an early kickoff with goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

Carlos Tevez struck in the 83rd minute to give Manchester United a 1-0 victory at Stoke City as the champions moved up to third ahead of Aston Villa`s evening match against Arsenal.

There was an unusual incident at Manchester City as the home side raced into a 4-0 halftime lead against Hull City before eventually winning 5-1.

Felipe Caicedo and Robinho scored twice apiece in a blistering 21-minute spell to make a mockery of Manchester City`s miserable run of two wins in 13 league matches.

Hull manager Phil Brown ordered his team to sit in front of the away supporters at the start of the halftime break and gave the players a public dressing down before allowing them to return to the changing room.

Craig Fagan pulled one back for Hull 10 minutes from time before Stephen Ireland added Manchester City`s fifth.

It was the second successive heavy defeat for promoted Hull, after they lost 4-1 against Sunderland last week.

West Ham United came from behind to win 4-1 at Portsmouth while Fulham drew 0-0 at Tottenham Hotspur.

Everton maintained their good away form with Tim Cahill securing a 1-0 triumph at Middlesbrough while Wigan Athletic beat Newcastle United 2-1 and Sunderland drew 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers.

Liverpool have 42 points followed by Chelsea on 41. Manchester United, who have two games in hand on the top two, are third on 35 with Villa fourth on 34.


Keane double

Liverpool played superbly at Anfield, where they had drawn their last three matches, and were well worth the victory over Bolton as Keane scored twice in five minutes early in the second half to take his tally to three in two matches.

Albert Riera had opened the scoring in the first half and only desperate defending from Bolton denied Liverpool.

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari started Drogba and Nicolas Anelka up front against West Brom and the recalled Drogba took only three minutes to make an impact as he firmly headed in a Joe Cole cross.

Chelsea were on top throughout and only goalkeeper Scott Carson, who tipped an Ashley Cole effort on to a post, kept them out.

Joe Cole was also involved in the second goal just before halftime when Frank Lampard neatly dinked the ball over Carson from close range.

Manchester United, back in league action after winning the Club World Cup in Japan last weekend, crushed Stoke 5-0 at Old Trafford six weeks ago but were made to work much harder for a 1-0 win at the Britannia Stadium.

Things swung United`s way after 72 minutes when Andy Wilkinson hacked down Cristiano Ronaldo and was sent off for a second booking.

The visitors took advantage as Gary Neville crossed to substitute Dimitar Berbatov, who flicked on for Tevez to thump the ball home from close range.

Rio Ferdinand was injured in the warmup and United manager Alex Ferguson said the defender could be out for around 10 days.

source:www.antara.co.id