Reds tame Tigers, Blues win derby

25 April 2009 17:15
Liverpool kept up the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win at Hull, while Chelsea won 1-0 at West Ham.Xabi Alonso's strike and a Dirk Kuyt brace secured the victory which puts Rafael Benitez's Reds side ahead of United on goal difference, with United facing Tottenham in Saturday's late kick-off.Alonso scored on the stroke of half-time at the KC Stadium, hitting his free-kick straight into the wall but then lashing the rebound into the roof of the net, and after Caleb Folan had been sent off on the hour for a challenge on Martin Skrtel, Kuyt doubled the Reds' advantage with a header from a goalmouth scramble.Geovanni pulled one back for Hull with 18 minutes to go, but Kuyt volleyed home his second a minute from time to leave the Tigers in 17th place, three points above the drop zone.Third-placed Chelsea kept in touch with the leaders with victory at West Ham.After dominating the first half at Upton Park, the Blues broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the break, Salomon Kalou controlling Frank Lampard's cross and rifling it past Robert Green.Petr Cech responded to his recent critics by saving a second-half penalty from Mark Noble.Fulham continued to look good in the race for a Europa League spot, moving back into seventh with a 1-0 victory at home to Stoke.Erik Nevland scored the Cottagers' winner on the half hour, playing a one-two with Andy Johnson before slotting the ball coolly past Thomas Sorensen.Robinho netted his second goal in two matches as Manchester City secured a rare away win, triumphing 2-1 at FA Cup finalists Everton.The Brazilian put City ahead in the 35th minute at Goodison Park, firing through Tim Howard's legs and then turned provider just after half-time, sending in a cross for Stephen Ireland to finish before Dan Gosling's late consolation for the hosts.At the other end of the table, Sunderland's hopes of moving further away from the drop zone were dealt a blow at The Hawthorns with a 3-0 defeat against bottom side West Brom.The Baggies went ahead against the run of play in the first half through Jonas Olsson, but further strikes from Chris Brunt and on-loan midfielder Juan Carlos Menseguez gave Tony Mowbray's side a comprehensive win which keeps them in with a mathematical chance of avoiding relegation.Elsewhere, Aston Villa had looked set to ease their recent slump in form after Ashley Young's goal capped a decent first-half display at Bolton.But Tamir Cohen's equaliser on the hour means it finished 1-1 at the Reebok Stadium, extending Villa's winless run to nine league games.[LNB]

Source: Eurosport