Steven Gerrard hopes Liverpool’s stunning 4-1 victory against Manchester United will give the rest of the Premier League the belief to keep the title race alive.
Rafa Benitez’s side closed the gap on United to four points thanks to goals from Fernando Torres, Gerrard from the penalty spot, Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena at Old Trafford after Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty had put the hosts in front.
United’s dismal day was made even worse as Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic was sent off with the score at 2-1 for hauling down Gerrard.
But United still have a game in hand on Liverpool and third placed Chelsea, who could also close to within four points with a victory over Manchester City on Sunday, so Gerrard knows the Reds will need help to haul in the leaders.
”We’ll need a little bit of luck along the way but hopefully that gives teams that are going to play against Manchester United a bit of belief that they can be beaten,” Gerrard said.
”The important thing is that we have made the gap smaller. We realise that Manchester United are a fantastic team and there’s still a lot of work to do.”
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson felt the size of the defeat was harsh on United and insisted there was no reason to panic.
”There is no complacency on our part. We have lost a game. We need to respond and that is what we will do,” he said. ”If the league started now and we had a four-point start I would take it.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expect the Gunners to enjoy a successful end to the season after thrashing Blackburn 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
Blackburn’s Andre Ooijer deflected in Theo Walcott’s second minute cross and Andrey Arshavin struck in the 62nd minute with a superb solo effort for his first Gunners goal.
Emmanuel Eboue scored with three minutes to go and the Ivorian also drove home a penalty in the final seconds.
”I believe that maybe the pressure came off the team after the Roma game. We played with more freedom and we have more creative talent,” Wenger said.
”Our football was more fluent and our game is coming back. That’s down to psychological reasons. We were always very focused and we are
on a very consistent run now and we can go from strength to strength.”
Everton manager David Moyes will check on Australia midfielder Tim Cahill after he came off injured at half-time of his side’s 3-1 victory over Stoke at Goodison Park.
Brazil striker Jo, on loan from Manchester City, opened the scoring for Everton in the 18th minute and then Joleon Lescott tapped in after 24 minutes.
Stoke got a goal back through Ryan Shawcross in the 52nd minute but Marouane Fellaini sealed the points in the 90th minute. Struggling Newcastle remain in trouble after drawing 1-1 at Hull.
Hull made a dream start when Geovanni headed home Craig Fagan’s cross in the ninth minute but Newcastle, who had Michael Owen back from injury, equalised through Steven Taylor’s 38th-minute volley.
Middlesbrough striker Marlon King rescued a 1-1 draw against relegation rivals Portsmouth at the Riverside Stadium. Paul Hart’s visitors took the lead when Peter Crouch volleyed home from the edge of the penalty area in the 30th minute.
Middlesbrough, who sit second bottom of the table, were reduced to 10 men late in the second half when Matthew Bates was sent off for a second yellow card after diving.
But King struck in stoppage time to salvage a vital point for Gareth Southgate’s team.
Fulham defeated Bolton 3-1 at the Reebok Stadium to record a first away league win this season thanks to goals from Andrew Johnson, Simon Davies and Diomansy Kamara. Kevin Davies had equalised for Bolton.
Wigan snatched a controversial 2-1 victory at Sunderland.
Ben Watson opened the scoring with his first goal for Wigan.
Sunderland levelled thanks to Grant Leadbitter but Wigan got the winner on the stroke of half-time.
With Sunderland appealing for play to be stopped after Kenwyne Jones went down with a head injury, Charles N’Zogbia ran through to score. – AFP
