Chelsea Regain Top Spot as Liverpool Beat Man U in Premier League

By Adeleke Afolayan
Liverpool this evening ended a run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions with a deserved 2-0 win over arch-rivals Manchester United in the Premier League and allow Chelsea regain top spot with a comprehensive thrashing of Blackburn Rovers.
With pressure piling on Spanish boss Rafael Benitez along with seeming unrest off the pitch, the return of Fernando Torres proved pivotal for the Reds as the striker beat Edwin Van der Sar and put the home side ahead.

The Dutch keeper had previously made two good saves, one from countryman Dirk Kuyt and almost saw his side get back on level terms only for Antonio Valencia's effort to crash off the Liverpool crossbar.

A dramatic finish at Anfield saw Nemanja Vidic see red a second straight season though Liverpool's Javier Mascherano soon followed with a red card as well late on while French striker David Ngog sealed the valuable win deep in stoppage time for Liverpool.

The win puts Liverpool in sixth place on 18 points behind Manchester City on goal difference while United drop to second on 22 points, two behind Chelsea that demolished Blackburn Rovers 5-0 with Nicholas Anelka, Frank Lampard with a penalty and Didier Drogba in among the goals.

Other results saw Fulham come from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Man. City with Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey cancelling Joleon Lescott and Martin Petrov's goals for City in a 15 minute spell early in the second half.

George Whelan's late goal earned Stoke City a shock 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur that as a result missed the chance to go level on point with Man U while Bolton Wanderers edged to a 3-2 over Everton having let slip a two goal lead.

Sunderland lost 2-1 at Birmingham City and drop to eighth on 16 points, one behind Aston Villa that drew 1-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers while Wigan Athletic inflicted a first home defeat of the season on Burnley with a 3-1 triumph at Turf Moor.