LONDON—Steven Gerrard’s two goals earned Liverpool a point after coming back from two goals down against newly promoted Hull City at Anfield on Saturday.
Hull took the lead when defender Paul McShane got on the end of a Marlon King cross and headed just under the crossbar.
Soon after, Bernard Mendy dribbled deep into Liverpool territory and crossed. Liverpool central defender Jamie Carragher was caught in no-man’s land and diverted the ball into his own net.
As is the case so often, Gerrard was there to make the difference. His first came when a Dirk Kuyt cross sat up nicely from him to blast the ball to the back of the net.
His second came after the half hour mark when Benayoun sat the ball up for him in the box for him to blast the ball home again.
For Hull, the 2–2 draw continues their dream debut in the English Premier League but the manner in which it was obtained will have them feeling disappointed.
Hull manager Phil Brown told the BBC, “Having gone 2–0 up to then concede two goals against them, I’m aggrieved to be honest.”
Spurs dug in their heels and hung on to take a draw with keeper Heurelho Gomes having a fine performance.
After a match full of saves, Gomes left the best for last. Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs took a free kick in the dying minutes of the game, which was stopped by Gomes’s outstretched hand, tipping the ball over the goal.
United were quick to pile on the pressure and Dimitar Berbatov made his first visit to Tottenham after his bitter split from the North London club this past summer.
Each time Berbatov got the ball, the Spurs fans were quick to boo him and there were a few opportunities where he nearly silenced them.
Chelsea failed to go top of the table after being held to a draw at Stamford Bridge by West Ham in an energetic London derby on Sunday.
Gianfranco Zola made his first return to Chelsea as West Ham manager. The Italian scored 80 goals in a distinguished playing career for Chelsea between 1996 and 2003.
The Chelsea fans gave him a good reception.
West Ham who recently has become more organized in defense played most of this game soaking up the pressure and counter-attacking.
Chelsea was caught on the back foot after a quick throw to Mark Noble who controlled the ball and set up Craig Bellamy. Bellamy then volleyed in at the near post past Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari put the partnership of Didier Drogba and Premier League top scorer Nicolas Anelka to the test in the second half.
Anelka found himself at the end of a quick passing move to hit hard and low for this 100th Premier League goal.
Scolari told the BBC, “Didier Drogba is in good condition and may play more in the next game, but the other players must cooperate because when he came on, we lost the midfield.”
Arsenal’s title hopes took another hit when Middlesbrough came back to snatch a draw in Saturday’s early game.
Emmanuel Adebayor headed the Gunners in front after 17 minutes from Cesc Fabregas’s corner.
But Middlesbrough got back in the game with a fine header from former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere off a powerful Tuncay Sanli cross.
“Nobody believes in us but we can show we still believe and keep going. At the moment, my team needs encouragement more than anything,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Aston Villa beat Bolton 4–2 to take them to fourth in the table ahead of Arsenal.
Hull took the lead when defender Paul McShane got on the end of a Marlon King cross and headed just under the crossbar.
Soon after, Bernard Mendy dribbled deep into Liverpool territory and crossed. Liverpool central defender Jamie Carragher was caught in no-man’s land and diverted the ball into his own net.
As is the case so often, Gerrard was there to make the difference. His first came when a Dirk Kuyt cross sat up nicely from him to blast the ball to the back of the net.
His second came after the half hour mark when Benayoun sat the ball up for him in the box for him to blast the ball home again.
For Hull, the 2–2 draw continues their dream debut in the English Premier League but the manner in which it was obtained will have them feeling disappointed.
Hull manager Phil Brown told the BBC, “Having gone 2–0 up to then concede two goals against them, I’m aggrieved to be honest.”
Tottenham Hotspur 0, Manchester United 0
Spurs dug in their heels and hung on to take a draw with keeper Heurelho Gomes having a fine performance.
After a match full of saves, Gomes left the best for last. Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs took a free kick in the dying minutes of the game, which was stopped by Gomes’s outstretched hand, tipping the ball over the goal.
United were quick to pile on the pressure and Dimitar Berbatov made his first visit to Tottenham after his bitter split from the North London club this past summer.
Each time Berbatov got the ball, the Spurs fans were quick to boo him and there were a few opportunities where he nearly silenced them.
Chelsea 1, West Ham United 1
Chelsea failed to go top of the table after being held to a draw at Stamford Bridge by West Ham in an energetic London derby on Sunday.
Gianfranco Zola made his first return to Chelsea as West Ham manager. The Italian scored 80 goals in a distinguished playing career for Chelsea between 1996 and 2003.
The Chelsea fans gave him a good reception.
West Ham who recently has become more organized in defense played most of this game soaking up the pressure and counter-attacking.
Chelsea was caught on the back foot after a quick throw to Mark Noble who controlled the ball and set up Craig Bellamy. Bellamy then volleyed in at the near post past Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari put the partnership of Didier Drogba and Premier League top scorer Nicolas Anelka to the test in the second half.
Anelka found himself at the end of a quick passing move to hit hard and low for this 100th Premier League goal.
Scolari told the BBC, “Didier Drogba is in good condition and may play more in the next game, but the other players must cooperate because when he came on, we lost the midfield.”
Middlesbrough 1, Arsenal 1
Arsenal’s title hopes took another hit when Middlesbrough came back to snatch a draw in Saturday’s early game.
Emmanuel Adebayor headed the Gunners in front after 17 minutes from Cesc Fabregas’s corner.
But Middlesbrough got back in the game with a fine header from former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere off a powerful Tuncay Sanli cross.
“Nobody believes in us but we can show we still believe and keep going. At the moment, my team needs encouragement more than anything,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Aston Villa beat Bolton 4–2 to take them to fourth in the table ahead of Arsenal.
