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Liverpool Stoked to Premier League Draw

Written by Adeleke Afolayan

Saturday, 20 September 2008

Following a morale-boosting week of wins over Manchester United in the league and Marseille in the Champions League, Liverpool was brought right back to earth with a goalless draw at home to Seyi Olofinjana's Stoke City.

Though the result took Rafael Benitez's constantly rotated side to the top of the league temporarily with 11 points ahead of Sunday's big match at Stamford Bridge, the Reds' could have been been on 13 points instead of 11.

The cruel moment for Liverpool came in the second minute with Steven Gerrard's free kick ruled out controversially due on an offside decision; the goal allowed would have been Gerrard's 100th for the club.

Further efforts from Robbie Keane, yet to score since joining from Tottenham and Xabi Alonso while Fernando Torres had a second half header just wide and Andy Griffin cleared off the line for Stoke with two minutes of play remaining.

The result for Stoke saw a swap of places with Obafemi Martins' Newcastle United at the bottom end of the table after the Magpies fell to a 3-1 win away at West Ham i Gianfranco Zola's Premier League debut as the Hammers' manager.

And it was a day for the new to shine with another Italian import David di Michele scoring a first half brace, both goals involving Newcastle's Steve Taylor and his second a brilliant use of technique.

Matthew Etheridge made it 3-0 on the 53rd minute before Michael Owen got a consolation for Newcastle, a club enthrenched in a search for a new owner and coach after the resignation of Kevin Keegan and owner Mike Ashley putting the club up for sale.

Other results of the afternoon saw Sunderland claim a 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough in the early kick-off thanks to a second half brace from Michael Chopra while Blackburn Rovers edged Fulham 1-0 at Ewood Park courtesy of Roque Santa Cruz's late second half goal.

In the late kick-off at Reebok Stadium, Arsenal came from a Kevin Davies goal down to defeat Bolton Wanderers 3-1 and replace Liverpool at the top of the table with 12 points, pending Sunday's big match at Stamford Bridge.

Two goals in a minute from Emmanuel Eboue and Nicklas Bendtner started the Arsenal turn-around before Denilson rounded up with a late effort to seal yet another classic Arsenal performance.

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Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 September 2008 )

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