Liverpool’s title ambitions seem to be in tatters after they were outplayed and outfought by Middlesbrough at the Riverside who ran out 2-0 winners.

It was the home side’s first win in 15 league games and helped them move out of the relegation area. Xabi Alonso’s own goal from Stewart Downing’s corner gave Boro the lead, and Tuncay made sure of the three points halfway through the second period.

Steven Gerrard, who was making his 300th start for the Reds, was one of only a handful of the visitors to leave with any credit, in a game which has surely ended any hopes that Liverpool still had of closing the gap on Manchester United.

Chelsea took advantage of United’s Carling Cup Final duty tomorrow, just, as they beat Wigan Athletic 2-1, Frank Lampard scoring in the last minute. Arsenal slipped again, drawing a blank in a goalless draw with Fulham at the Emirates. Everton managed to put their injury woes behind them to see off bottom side West Bromwich Albion by two goals to nil, Tim Cahill and Louis Saha the scorers.

Two of the top three were defeated at home in the Championship, Wolverhampton Wanderers losing 1-0 against Plymouth Argyle at Molineux, and Reading being thwarted by Nottingham Forset at the Madejski through the same scoreline.

The top two in League One shared the spoils, MK Dons and Leicester City battling to a 2-2 draw, a last gasp free-kick from Max-Alain Gradel rescuing a point for the Foxes.

By Alex Zielski

Manchester City became the solitary English side remaining in this year’s UEFA Cup as they defeated FC Copenhagen at Eastlands.

Craig Bellamy grabbed a double in the home sides 2-1 win, which put them through by four goals to three on aggregate. City will now face further Danish opposition in the guise of Aalborg who impressively beat Deportivo La Coruna 6-1 on aggregate.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur both exited the competition. Villa succumbed to CSKA Moscow in Russia by two goals to nil, losing 3-1 on aggregate. Tottenham could only manage a draw against Shakhtar Donetsk, with Giovani dos Santos’ strike unable to stop the Londoners slipping to a 3-1 defeat over the two ties.

In the FA Cup, Hull City booked their quarter final place for the first time in 38 years with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the Fifth Round replay at the KC Stadium.

It was in controversial fashion, after Sheffield United’s Kyle Naughton was adjudged to have headed past his own goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. However replays showed that the ball hadn’t crossed the line. Billy Sharp pulled the visitors level, but Peter Halmosi steered in Hull’s winner on 56 minutes.

By Alex Zielski

Liverpool rekindled their famous Champions League exploits with a 1-0 win at the Bernabeu against Spanish giants Real Madrid.

In the first leg of the first knock-out round tie, Yossi Benayoun rose the highest to head home Fabio Aurelio’s free kick and put the Reds in prime position to qualify for the last eight of the competition. It’s a performance which is a far cry from recent domestic outings, where the Merseysiders defended well and hit the La Liga side with a late sucker punch.

Chelsea have a slender advantage, beating Juventus by the same scoreline at Stamford Bridge, Didier Drogba scoring the only goal of the game after 13 minutes.

By Alex Zielski

In the first knockout round in the Champions League, Manchester United were held to a goalless draw at the San Siro by Inter Milan, despite having the better of the game, whilst Robin Van Persie’s penalty gave Arsenal a narrow lead to defend in Rome.

The 0-0 scoreline means that United will have to be extra cautious about conceding in the second leg at Old Trafford in a fortnight. At the Emirates Robin Van Persie dusted himself down after being fouled by Philippe Mexes in the area to convert from the spot, and give Arsenal a 1-0 victory.

The other two games of the last 16 ended in draws, Atletico Madrid and Porto finishing 2-2 in Spain, whilst Lyon and Barcelona ended 1-1.

Rovers Rocked As Fulham Sink Swans

Blackburn Rovers were dumped out of the FA Cup, losing their 5th Round replay at the Ricoh Arena to Championship side Coventry City, Leon Best heading the only goal of the game just before the hour. Fulham managed to see off Swansea City, Clint Dempsey and Bobby Zamora turning the game on its ahead to give the home side a 2-1 victory, after Jason Scotland opened the scoring in the first-half, his 14th goal in 15 games.

By Alex Zielski

Mikel Arteta could be out for up to four weeks after suffering a ruptured cruciate ligament in Everton’s goalless draw at Newcastle United yesterday.

The Spaniard went down awkwardly after only three minutes, and the news will come as a bitter blow to the Toffees who still have an outside chance of a Champions League spot.

By Alex Zielski

Liverpool threw away the chance to close the gap on Manchester United at the top of the Premier League, and gave the holders every chance of confirming the retention of their crown.

Anfield was again the location for the Reds to slip, this time against Manchester City with former striker Craig Bellmay giving the visitors the lead and Dirk Kuyt getting the equaliser with just over ten minutes remaining.

The result leaves Liverpool seven points behind United.

Meanwhile Merseyside rivals Everton took a valuable point from St James Park in their 0-0 draw, but may have left slightly disappointed after Newcastle United were reduced to ten men following Kevin Nolan’s shocking tackle on Victor Anichebe.

Fulham’s excellent home form continued with a 2-0 victory over bottom side West Bromwich Albion at Cravern Cottage.

By Alex Zielski

Manchester United finally conceded a Premier League goal for the first time in 1,334 minutes but were still too strong for strugglers Blackburn Rovers.

Wayne Rooney opened the scoring on 23 minutes, but United leaked only their 11th goal of the season, as Manchester City target Roque Santa Cruz with a neat finish past stand-in keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

However, normality was restored at Old Trafford with a trademark Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick on the hour mark.

Elsewhere, Chelsea did enough to see off the challenge of Champions League chasers Aston Villa. A brilliant jinking run from Frank Lampard found Nikolas Anelka whose exquisite finish beat Brad Friedel to give the Blues all three points in the early kick-off.

Bolton Wanderers grabbed victory over in form West Ham United at the Reebok Stadium, storming into a two goal lead after only 12 minutes through Matt Taylor and Kevin Davies. The Hammers consolation came via Scott Parker’s close range effort. Portsmouth needed a last minute own goal from Ryan Shawcross to grab a point at Stoke City. The visitors had taken the lead through David Nugent on 75 minutes, but Stoke turned the game on its head, James Beattie getting a double, before Shawcross sliced past Thomas Sorensen. Middlesbrough’s troubles deepened as they could only muster a goalless draw with Wigan Athletic at the Riverside.

Championship’s Unpredictability Shows Again

It would seem as though nobody wanted promotion to the Premiership after two of the top three fell to defeat. Both had the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers who don’t play tomorrow, but Birmingham City came unstuck to a second minute goal by Scott Dann against Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena. Meanwhile, Reading suffered home defeat against inform Bristol City, Dele Adebola and Cole Skuse demonstrating City’s potential in the 2-0 win.

In the East Midlands derby, the third in just over a month following the FA Cup ties, Derby County ran out comfortable visitors at the City Ground. The Rams found themselves cruising to a three goal victory thanks to strikes from Lewin Nyatanga, Rob Hulse, and Steve Davies penalty with 20 minutes to go. Forest made the scoreline slightly less embarrassing against their bitter rivals, Rob Earnshaw heading home with just three minutes remaining.

Leicester City look all but ready to confirm their immediate return to the Championship with a 1-0 victory against ten men Bristol Rovers taking them 12 points clear of second place MK Dons with Matt Fryatt’s solitary strike enough to seal victory.

Seagulls Part Company With Adams

Brighton & Hove Albion have sacked manager Micky Adams finding themselves slipping down League One and into the drop zone.

Adams took charge at the Withdean for the second time but has had a unsuccessful spell with the club, and the Seagulls have made the decison to look for a fresh face to steer them to safety.

By Alex Zielski

[Amended]

Former Nottingham Forest striker Jack Lester’s solitary strike was enough to hand Chesterfield all three points against lowly AFC Bournemouth in League Two.

It was the frontman’s 15th goal of the season, which puts the home side within reaching distance of the top seven.

Elsewhere, Port Vale continue to slide down the pecking order after a home defeat to Lincoln City. The result has put increasing pressure on Vale boss Dean Glover, and there was clear unrest amongst some sections of the local crowd. Dany N’Guessan got the only goal.

By Alex Zielski

Tottenham Hotspur conceded two late goals to give themselves a lot of work to do at White Hart Lane next week in the return leg of their UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie.

The much changed Spurs side looked relatively comfortable until the last quarter of the game, when goals from Yevgen Seleznov and Rodrigues Jadson gave Shakhtar Donetsk a healthy lead to defend in London.

Meanwhile, Manchester City also let it slip late on, this time in Denmark, leading 2-1 in the final minute, Martin Vingaard grabbed an equaliser for FC Copenhagen. Nedum Onuoha and Stephen Ireland were the scorers for City.

By Alex Zielsk

Edwin Van Der Sar’s amazing record has continued as United strolled to victory over a tame looking Fulham at Old Trafford.

While United remain on top, the Dutch shotstopper has move into second place after this clean sheet extended his time without conceeding a goal to 1302 minutes, and 14 league games. The only goalkeeper in Europe who has bettered this feat is Dany Verlinden, who went 1390 minutes without seeing the ball hit his net whilst playing for Club Brugge in Belgium in 1990.

United never really had to get past second gear against Fulham, and Paul Scholes opened the scoring after only 12 minutes, with Cottagers keeper Mark Schwarzer probably feeling he could have done better with the midfielder’s 25-yard effort. This was added to by Dimi Berbatov on 30 minutes, and Wayne Rooney made sure of the points in the second-half with a side footed effort.

By Alex ZIelski

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