Liverpool went fifth in the Premier League with a 2-1 win away to relegation-threatened Norwich on Monday.
Second-half goals from Luis Garcia and John Arne Riise left Liverpool comfortably ahead before Norwich pulled one back two minutes from the end of normal time thanks to a superb first Premiership goal from 18-year-old substitute Ryan Jarvis.
Victory saw Liverpool bounce back from their New Year’s Day defeat by leaders Chelsea and meant they leapfrogged Middlesbrough to be just three points behind local rivals Everton, who are currently in the fourth and final Champions League spot.
Norwich, meanwhile, returned to the bottom three.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace’s Andrew Johnson netted twice to take his tally for the season to 13 league goals as the Eagles moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win at home to Aston Villa.
Blackburn ensured Charlton suffered a second straight defeat with a 1-0 victory at Ewood Park.
In Monday’s late kick-off match, West Brom collected their first home point but a goalless draw at home to Newcastle — the first between the sides since 1924 — still left the Baggies bottom of the table.
Newcastle remained 13th.
Liverpool took a 58th-minute lead at Carrow Road when Garcia lobbed Norwich goalkeeper Robert Green from the edge of the box and doubled their advantage eight minutes later when Riise followed up the rebound after Green blocked a fierce shot from substitute Florent Sinama-Pongolle.
Jarvis gave Norwich, who drew 1-1 away to Portsmouth last time out despite playing most of the match with 10 men, hope late on but it was not enough.
Afterwards, relieved Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: ”It was a tough game, Norwich put us under pressure. We were disappointed to concede the goal at the end to put us under pressure.”
Carragher also praised Garcia’s opener.
”At the time, the game could have gone either way and fortunately a bit of class from Luis has decided it for us.
”It’s the Champions League spot we are after and it was good to get a result because it puts a bit of pressure on them [teams above us].”
Norwich manager Nigel Worthington said: ”I thought the effort and commitment from the players was first class. They never dropped their heads. We got a great goal to come back into it.
”Over the last four games we have worked very hard but with little return — but that is the Premiership.”
At Selhurst Park, Johnson produced the kind of striking display Villa boss David O’Leary could only dream about after seeing Southampton forward James Beattie turn down a move to his side in favour of a switch to Everton.
He put Palace ahead in the 33rd minute when he followed up after Villa ‘keeper Thomas Sorensen failed to hold Ben Watson’s long-range strike.
Palace thought Johnson had a second on the stroke of half-time when he scored from a corner, but his effort was disallowed after the referee ruled the ball had gone out of play from the set-piece.
But the forward eventually made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 66th minute after Villa’s Mark Delaney had fouled Vassilis Lakis in the box.
Australian midfielder Brett Emerton was Blackburn’s hero at Ewood Park, his goal four minutes before half-time wrapping up all the points for Mark Hughes’s men.
Barry Ferguson cut the ball back inside the box to David Thompson and his cross was headed in at the back post by Emerton.
”Overall we more than deserved the three points today,” said former Wales manager Hughes.
”It’s been a difficult period for everybody but we’ve managed to come through with a decent haul of points. I was delighted when it [the goal] went in, and we defended really well.
”Both sides looked really tired,” said Charlton manager Alan Curbishley. ”If I could have had the first 10 minutes and the last 10 minutes for most of the game I would have been happy.”
All the top four have home matches on Tuesday, with Chelsea playing Middlesbrough where an away win would see Steve McClaren’s side regain fifth place from Liverpool.
Second-placed champions Arsenal, five points behind their London rivals, welcome Manchester City to Highbury while Manchester United face an in-form Tottenham.
Everton, who have slipped down the table in recent weeks to be fourth, will look to bounce back from their 5-2 thrashing by Spurs against Portsmouth.
Tuesday’s other match sees Birmingham at home to fading Bolton. On Wednesday, relegation candidates Southampton take on Fulham at St Mary’s. — Sapa-AFP