Round-up of New Years’ Day’s Premier League programme.
Liverpool start their fixtures in 2008 tonight a massive thirteen points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, though with two games in hand over the Gunners.
Victory for Arsene Wenger’s team on New Years’ Day at home to West Ham saw the North London club maintain their position at the top of the table. Goals in the first twenty minutes from Eduardo and Emmanuel Adebayor were the difference between the two sides.
There were also victories for fellow title rivals Manchester United, who beat Birmingham City 1-0 at Old Trafford thanks to a 25th minute Carlos Tevez goal, and Chelsea, who came back from going a goal behind to a 10th minute Danny Murphy penalty to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage. Goals from Saloman Kalou and Michael Ballack turned things around in the second half for the Blues.
Elsewhere, a late goal from Martin Laursen rescued three points for Aston Villa at home to Tottenham. Villa won 2-1 with their first from Olof Mellberg with Jermaine Defoe grabbing Spurs’ only goal.
Reading went down 0-2 at home to Portsmouth with Sol Campbell and John Utaka on the scoresheet whilst second half strikes from Andrew Johnson and James McFadden earned Everton. Our Merseyside rivals move to just one point behind us in the table.
The victories for the top three mean Liverpool drift seven points from third place Chelsea (44 points), eleven behind Man. Utd (48 points) and thirteen behind leaders Arsenal (50 points).
However Rafael Benitez’s men have two games in hand, starting with the home game against Wigan Athletic at Anfield tonight. Kick-off is 8pm.
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