Liverpool remain top after Gerrard penalty
Gerrard's goal was enough to earn the Reds all three points
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Joey Barton was on the score-sheet as Newcastle edged their way to a 2-1 victory over West Brom at St James' Park. |  |
Wednesday, 29, Oct 2008 11:28
Steven Gerrard scored a late penalty to hand Liverpool a vital 1-0 win over Portsmouth at Anfield and remain top of the Premier League.
It was Tony Adams' first game in charge as Pompey manager and he did his best to stifle the Reds by deploying a five-man midfield.
His tactics worked for most of the game, with Liverpool restricted to very few efforts on goal.
Yossi Benayoun was denied by an excellent block by Younes Kaboul and Dirk Kuyt saw his shot tipped on to the post by David James.
Liverpool were finally given a lifeline when Papa Boupa Diop handled the ball following a corner. Gerrard stepped up to the spot and made no mistake with the penalty.
Rafael Benitez's side remain three points clear of Chelsea thanks to the win.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa went into fourth place in the league with a 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers.
They were forced to come from behind when Benni McCarthy set up Stephen Warnock for Blackburn's opener after 25 minutes. The defender lashed the ball past Brad Friedel from the edge of the box.
On the stroke of half-time Luke Young levelled the match when he bundled the ball home after Rovers' defence failed to deal with Nicky Shorey's cross.
Villa were having to work hard and were relieved when James Milner managed to pick out Gareth Barry in the box and the England man tapped home from three yards.
The home side were hanging on in the latter part of the game but looked to have sealed it when Gabriel Agbonlahor managed to get their third on the counter-attack with three minutes remaining.
Brett Emerton pulled a goal back in the fourth minute of stoppage time but it was too little too late for Rovers.
Fulham got their first win in six games after Andy Johnson scored his first goals for the club in a 2-0 win over Wigan.
In the first half Paul Konchesky crossed from the left and found Johnson in space in the box. Although he may have been offside the striker's header was allowed to stand.
If there was a doubt about Johnson's first there was none about the second. Jimmy Bullard played a well-weighted through-ball for Johnson who calmly slotted home.
Stoke managed to climb out of the relegation zone thanks to a solitary goal from Ricardo Fuller. He headed in Rory Delap's long throw-in to give Tony Pulis' side a 1-0 win over Sunderland.
At the Riverside Stadium Middlesbrough got back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Manchester City.
Defender David Wheater won a penalty when Daniel Sturridge brought him down, although the challenge looked to be outside the box. Afonso Alves converted the spot kick to give Boro the lead.
Gary O'Neil then sealed the points with a breakaway goal in stoppage time.
Finally, Bolton dropped to second bottom after a 1-0 defeat to Everton at the Reebok Stadium. Belgian teenager Marouane Fellaini scored the only goal of the game in the final minute.
The win helped Everton join a host of clubs on 12 points while Bolton were sent off the field to a chorus of boos from their supporters following the final whistle.