/ 18 September 2006

Chelsea edge Liverpool 1-0

Chelsea and Arsenal were the winners on ”Grand Slam Sunday” in the English Premier League.

Didier Drogba scored a stunning goal late in the first half in Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool, and Arsenal won its first league game of the season by beating rival Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Emmanuel Adebayor’s goal in the 85th.

The loss before a record crowd of 75 595 kept United from staying in first place, which is now held by surprising Portsmouth.

It was Man United’s first loss in the league after four wins, and Arsenal’s first victory in its fourth league game.

Drogba’s goal may be remembered as one of the season’s best.

He settled a long ball from Frank Lampard in the 42nd minute, swirled 180 degrees and drove a rising shot from 20m to beat Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

The goal drew rousing applause at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium, with golfer Tiger Woods leading the cheers from a front-row seat. Woods, who will play in the upcoming Ryder Cup, is a friend and golf partner of Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko.

Also on Sunday, it was: Blackburn 4, Manchester City 2; Tottehham 0, Fulham 0; and West Ham 0, Newcastle 2.

Portsmouth leads the league with 13 points. Chelsea and Man United have 12 points each and Everton has 11.

Liverpool, which has only four points in four games, had its chances with Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard squandering several opportunities. The Reds also had a man advantage from the 51st minute when Michael Ballack was sent off for stomping on

Liverpool’s Mohamed Sissoko.

After Chelsea controlled the first 15 minutes, Kuyt should have given Liverpool a lead when his 16th-minute shot went off the crossbar behind Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

With the man advantage, Liverpool also could have equalised in the 68th. Gerrard broke in all alone but shot directly into Cech, who was sprawling on the ground.

In the 76th, Kuyt headed wide. Seconds later, Liverpool lost an appeal for a penalty when Lampard pushed Gerrard in the area. In the 82nd, Liverpool had another chance to equalize when Kuyt shot over the crossbar.

Peter Crouch had Liverpool’s last chance in the third minute of second-half injury time, heading a close-in shot into Cech’s hands.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho didn’t dispute Ballack’s red card.

”It was a clear red card,” Mourinho said. ”Everybody who has seen it thinks the same and it kills the game. We are 1-0 up and play for 45 minutes with a player more. It’s a completely different game.

”He [Ballack] told me he didn’t go in to hurt the opponent but the rules are very clear. The red card is deserved.”

Arsenal won the game when Cesc Fabregas stole the ball at midfield from Cristiano Ronaldo, and then threaded the ball through to Adebayor, who slipped it under Man United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

In Blackburn’s 4-2 win over Man City, three different players scored with the other coming on an own-goal from Man City’s Trevor Sinclair. Morten Gamst Pedersen, Benni McCarthy and Paul Gallagher scored for Blackburn.

Joey Barton scored for Man City with the other off an own-goal by Andre Ooijer.

Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins scored second-half goals in Newcastle’s 2-0 win at West Ham. West Ham has yet to win in three game since being joined by high-profile Argentines Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez.

On Saturday, it was: Charlton 0, Portsmouth 1; Bolton 0, Middlesbrough 0; Everton 2, Wigan 2; Sheffield United 1, Reading 2; and Watford 0, Aston Villa 0. – Sapa-AP