Cheyrou on target as Chelsea slump
LONDON, England -- French midfielder Bruno Cheyrou inflicted a potentially fatal blow on Chelsea's title ambitions by grabbing a vital three points for 10-man Liverpool on Wednesday.
Cheyrou's 33rd minute strike was enough to secure a 1-0 away win that lifts Liverpool up to fifth place in the table and back within touching distance of a Champions League place.
Liverpool withstood relentless second-half pressure and survived a controversial late sending-off for El Hadji Diouf to record their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1989.
The Merseysiders also suffered the second half loss of goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek with a groin strain but still held out for a desperately needed morale-boosting win.
Cheyrou's 33rd-minute strike proved decisive, the French midfielder getting on the end of Emile Heskey's curled low cross from the right to leave Carlo Cudicini with no chance for his first goal in the Premiership.
To make matters worse for Chelsea, they will now have to do without Hernan Crespo for at least a week after the Argentinian striker limped off with a calf strain in the 12th minute.
Arsenal looked to have weathered the worst of Everton's storm when Nigerian playmaker Nwankwo Kanu ran on to Thierry Henry's pass and skipped round Nigel Martyn to put them ahead, totally against the run of play, in the 29th minute at Goodison.
But Everton's tenacity finally paid off with a quarter of an hour remaining when Canadian striker Thomasz Radzinski equalised.
Shearer strikes for Newcastle
Newcastle could have scored five or six in a first half onslaught against struggling Leeds.
But Sir Bobby Robson's side had to settle for a 1-0 win courtesy of Alan Shearer's 4th-minute strike and were very nearly made to pay for their profligacy as Leeds mounted a spirited second half fightback.
Paolo di Canio ensured Manchester City's winless run was extended to 13 matches with a late equaliser for Charlton.
To add to the agony for the City faithful, the Italian striker's goal came on the rebound after David Seaman had saved an 84th minute penalty awarded for what appeared to be an unintentional hand ball by defender Richard Dunne.
Up until then City had looked odds on to finally end their miserable streak thanks to Robbie Fowler's 39th minute opener.
Goals in either half from Joseph Desire Job and Szilard Nemeth earned Middlesbrough a 2-1 win over Fulham that pushes the Londoners down to seventh.
Tottenham hit four
French winger Stephane Dalmat helped fire Tottenham out of the relegation zone with a first half double as the beleaguered north London club bounced back to form with a 4-1 win over Birmingham.
Welsh midfielder Simon Davies also got on the scoresheet as Spurs raced to a three-goal lead before the break.
Robbie Savage notched a consolation effort for Birmingham from the penalty spot mid-way through the second half but Robbie Keane's seventh goal of the season restored the home side's advantage in the 79th minute.
Leicester ensured they did not drop into the relegation place vacated by Spurs by holding out for a goalless draw at Southampton. The point was enough to lift the Foxes above fellow Premiership newcomers Portsmouth, albeit only on goal difference.
Bottom side Wolves continued their battle for Premiership survival with a battling 2-2 draw at home to Blackburn.
A rare headed goal from skipper Paul Butler and Alex Rae's 8th of the season put Wolves ahead after Andy Cole's 14th minute opener but Dwight Yorke rescued a point for the visitors 11 minutes from time.
