BPL : Liverpool held by ten-man Arsenal

Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool

Leaders Liverpool stayed eight points clear of Arsenal in the race for the Premier League title after the two sides fought out an epic 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Arsenal, reduced to ten men after 62 minutes when Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off for a second yellow card after raising an elbow to Alvaro Arbeloa, continued to cause Liverpool problems throughout. But in the end, the league leaders were well worth the point that keeps them ahead of Chelsea at the top of the table. Robin van Persie put Arsenal ahead with an excellently-taken goal after 24 minutes, before Robbie Keane, who has struggled to find his form for Liverpool since his move from Arsenal's arch-rivals Tottenham in the off-season, equalised three minutes before half-time.

Although Adebayor's controversial red card gave Liverpool the numerical supreriority, they were forced to defend resolutely to thwart Arsenal in the second half. The result left Liverpool top with 39 points from 18 matches, two more than Chelsea who play Everton on Monday.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was forced to stay at home and watch the match on television following surgery for kidney stones, leaving his assistant Sammy Lee in charge of the side. However, he would have been pleased with the way his men started the match, despite the absences of striker Fernando Torres (hamstring) and Javier Mascherano (flu).


Newcastle United 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Damien Duff came off the bench to fire Newcastle United to a last-minute victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he combined superbly with fellow substitute Mark Viduka before beating goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. Spurs midfielder Luka Modric cancelled out Charles N'Zogbia's 11th-minute opener 17 minutes later, but it was Duff who had the final say.

N'Zogbia managed to reach Given's clearance before Assou-Ekotto, and although the defender recovered to hold him up, the midfielder turned smartly to fire right-footed past Gomes. However, the visitors were back on terms a minute later when Dawson's strong challenge on Ameobi saw him lift the ball over the top to Modric, and as the home defence hesitated with Pavlyuchenko working his way back from an offside position, the Croatian ran in unopposed to beat Given.

Duff, who had replaced Enrique two played a superb one-two with Viduka and slid a left-foot shot past Gomes to snatch an invaluable win in the final minute of normal time.


West Bromwich 2 - 1 Manchester C.

Roman Bednar's injury-time header earned bottom-placed West Bromwich Albion their first win in 11 matches - and increased the pressure on Manchester City manager Mark Hughes.

Luke Moore's first goal for the Baggies had given them the lead before City substitute Felipe Caicedo levelled six minutes from time - only for Bednar to have the final say. fifa


Current results;

Blackburn Rovers 3 - 0 Stoke City
Bolton Wonderers 2 - 1 Portsmouth
Fulham 3 - 0 Middlesbrough
Hull City 1 - 4 Sunderland
West Ham United 0 - 1 Aston Villa
.......
West Bromwich 2 - 1 Manchester City
Newcastle United 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool
.......
Everton ? - ? Chelsea