Liverpool finish the year on top of the Premier League table. and will head into 2009 looking down on the rest of the division after an emphatic 5-1 victory over sorry Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Poor finishing and inspired goalkeeping from Shay Given kept the scores level until the 31st minute when Steven Gerrard crashed his shot in off the post following a neat move involving Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun.
Just five minutes later Sami Hyypia, who had already gone close twice, rose above Fabricio Coloccini to head home a Gerrard corner. Newcastle gave themselves hope for the second half when David Edgar headed home a corner at the near post in injury-time.
However, the hosts’ gameplan was in disarray again five minutes after the interval when Ryan Babel poked home from close range after a string of defenders failed to clear a corner. Gerrard grabbed his second of the game on 66 minutes when he darted on to a superb through ball from Lucas before clipping a delicated shot over Given and the rout was complete on 77 minutes when Xabi Alonso tucked away a penalty after substitute David N’Gog had been tripped by Edgar.
Chelsea lost ground in the title race after being pegged back by West London rivals Fulham late on in a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage. With a minute to go, Chelsea were undone by a set-piece as Davies swung in a corner which the unmarked Dempsey guided inside the post to stretch the Cottagers’ unbeaten run to nine games.
Former Blackburn boss Hughes saw his current side City produce a stunning late fightback to claim a 2-2 draw at Ewood Park. City substitute Sturridge sparked a dramatic comeback as he volleyed home two minutes from the end after Andre Ooijer failed to clear Robinho’s ball into the box. In the fourth minute of stoppage-time, Sturridge played a magnificent pass into the feet of Robinho and he slotted beyond Paul Robinson.
A moment of misjudgement from David James cost Portsmouth as Arsenal ground out a 1-0 win at Emirates Stadium. William Gallas met Denilson’s free-kick before James to nod into an empty net.
Stoke are set to finish the year in the relegation zone after going down 2-1 at a resurgent West Ham. The visitors enjoyed a dream start by taking the lead after just four minutes when the unmarked Abdoulaye Faye headed home a corner at the far post.
The Hammers equalised six minutes after half-time when Carlton Cole swivelled sharply to curl his shot into the far corner after Stoke’s Andy Griffin had failed to clear Scott Parker’s pass. Before Stoke were able to kick-off, Potters striker Fuller was sent off for slapping his team-mate Andy Griffin, who he saw as culpable for Cole’s leveller.
Fuller’s moment of madness proved even more costly when the Hammers snatched a winner two minutes from time as Cole’s shot took a decisive deflection off substitute Diego Tristan, who also appeared to be in an offside position .
West Brom made it two home wins on the spin after leaving it late to see off 10-man Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at the Hawthorns.
Wigan moved up to seventh in the table after Amr Zaki’s second penalty in the space of 48 hours secured a 1-0 win at Bolton.
Ricky Sbragia endured a miserable first game after being named Sunderland’s manager on a full-time basis after suffering a 3-0 defeat at Everton.
