Vital win as Bolton humble Reds

Bolton Wanderers' battle to avoid relegation received an unexpected boost with victory over a Liverpool side who need to improve quickly if their season is not to unravel around them. Midfielders Mark Davies and Nigel Reo-Coker gave the home side a deserved 2-0 lead inside half-an-hour and although Craig Bellamy's seventh of the season reduced the deficit Gretar Steinsson restored the two-goal cushion just five minutes into the second half.

The victory saw Wanderers move out of the bottom three with a performance full of desire and tenacity which, especially in the first half, had the visitors' looking at each other quizzically. Manager Kenny Dalglish will also no doubt want answers to how a side with only one home win all season - and who have lost their last ten against the Reds - could open up a usually reliable defence so easily.

Prior to this match only Premier League title-chasers Manchester City and Tottenham had scored three or more against Liverpool this season. Worryingly for Dalglish, they have to face City at home on Wednesday in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final holding just a slender 1-0 lead. If they defend as poorly as this the 16-year wait for a Wembley appearance may go on even longer.

Wanderers made it ten points from their last six matches and manager Owen Coyle will hope this result will prove to be a turning point for his beleaguered side. But after watching his players fail to break down Stoke last week - one of many struggles at Anfield - Dalglish has to find a way of lifting a team which has won just once in six league matches, collecting just six points.

Davies quick out of the blocks
Liverpool's excellent record against Bolton counted for little as early as the fourth minute when the home side took the lead. Martin Skrtel stepped out to meet Chris Eagles' pass into David Ngog but the slightest of touches from the former Reds striker moved it on to Davies who charged into the penalty area to shoot low just inside Jose Reina's left-hand post.

Eagles should have made it 2-0 when he held off the challenge of Jose Enrique as he ran in from the touchline only to fire a cross-shot past the far post from a narrow angle. Bellamy, playing up front alongside Andy Carroll, was by far Liverpool's biggest threat with his pace getting him behind the Wanderers defence on a number of occasions.

The Walesh international had one shot blocked by David Wheater while Carroll, who began to link better with his partner as the match wore on, headed straight at Adam Bogdan from Steven Gerrard's crossfield pass. After Maxi Rodriguez's penalty appeal for the ball hitting Zat Knight's arm was rejected Bolton all too easily carved open Liverpool's defence for a second time. Eagles was again the instigator, coming off the right touchline to chip the ball over the centre-backs for Reo-Coker to stab home.

Carroll was coming into the game more and after one first-time pass sent Bellamy racing through to shoot at Bogdan his flick-on led to a goal. His header from Reina's clearance sent the Welshman racing through and this time he cleverly clipped the ball past the Bolton goalkeeper. Bogdan then saved well from Gerrard's shot before Reina batted away Martin Petrov's free-kick in first-half added time.

Steinsson settles it
Liverpool's hopes of redressing the balance early in the second half were snuffed out after just five minutes when Wheater headed Petrov's corner back across goal and Steinsson slid a shot inside the post. With 25 minutes to go Stewart Downing and Dirk Kuyt were sent on for Rodriguez and Charlie Adam in an attempt to rescue the situation.

The chances were still falling to Carroll though but his luck did not improve as he blazed over from Davies' mis-control in the penalty area before completely missing Downing's cut-back. Defender Daniel Agger had come closer moments earlier when his long-range drive clipped the top of the crossbar.

Carroll, without a league goal since 29 October, continued to labour in front of net, typified by his complete miskick from Downing's cut-back. Liverpool's attacking in the closing stages became even more desperate but they rarely looked like threatening Bogdan.

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Keane double wins derby for Villa

Two-goal Robbie Keane marked his full Aston Villa debut with a superb second-half winner against ten-man Wolverhampton Wanderers in a pulsating Premier League derby which the visitors won 3-2 at Molineux.

The on-loan Los Angeles Galaxy striker's double helped Villa to come from behind against his old club after Darren Bent's early penalty had been cancelled out by goals from Michael Kightly and David Edwards. Wolves had been reduced to ten men with 15 minutes remaining after midfielder Karl Henry kicked out at winger Marc Albrighton and received a red card.

Victory enabled Villa manager Alex McLeish to celebrate his 53rd birthday in style and his side have now taken 11 points from their last five away matches. But Wolves remain embroiled in a relegation battle and are in the bottom three after their sequence without a league win was extended to eight games.

Villa started promisingly and should have gone ahead in the first minute. Ciaran Clark delivered a telling cross from the left of the Wolves box and Gary Gardner found himself unmarked at the far post but headed wide. Villa goalkeeper Shay Given had to be alert to cling on to a low drive from Steven Fletcher after Wolves' nine-goal top scorer had seized on a low cross from Edwards.

Bent breaks deadlock
But, after ten minutes, Bent scored his 99th Premier League goal from the penalty spot to put Villa ahead. Wolves could have no complaints as the England striker was chopped down inside the box by Christophe Berra. Up stepped Bent to send Hennessey the wrong way from the spot.

Villa were looking the more threatening and Roger Johnson blocked a fierce drive from Gardner at the expense of a corner. But, after 21 minutes, the lively Kightly brought Wolves level. Emmanuel Frimpong showed some neat skill before finding Kightly on the right and he cut inside before beating Given with a low drive into the far corner.

Wolves were now in the ascendancy and Albrighton was forced to head a shot from Henry off the line. Matt Jarvis then teed up Edwards in plenty of space near the Villa penalty spot but he powered his low drive straight at Given.

It came as no surprise when Wolves went ahead after 31 minutes through Edwards, with Villa again vulnerable at a set-piece. Kightly's corner was met by Johnson's powerful header and Edwards got in front of Given to head the ball into the roof of the net.

McLeish made a half-time substitution with Gabriel Agbonlahor making way for Stephen Warnock, who slotted in at left-back, which allowed Clark to move into midfield. After 52 minutes Keane brought Villa level. Jarvis' clearance fell straight to Clark, who headed the ball down for Keane, who swivelled and drilled a low shot past Hennessey into the corner of the net.

Wolves were forced into a change when Frimpong was accidentally caught in the face by Petrov when attacking a Kightly corner. There was a lengthy delay before the on-loan Arsenal midfielder was stretchered off with his neck in a brace and replaced by Nenad Milijas.

Keane claims winner
Villa were galvanised by their equaliser and Hennessey had to save from his own defender when Stephen Ward connected with a Bent cross. Albrighton made a 50-yard run and was only just too high with a 20-yard effort, while at the other end a Jarvis cross was just too high for Kightly, who could not control his header.

Wolves were reduced to ten men after 75 minutes, when Henry kicked out at Albrighton when on the ground and was given a straight red card. The former captain will miss the games with Queens Park Rangers, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion while serving a three-game ban.

Villa made their numerical advantage count when Keane scored a superb winner in the 84th minute. Alan Hutton's cross was only half cleared to Keane, whose fierce 20-yard drive flew past Hennessey into the top corner of the net.

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Dempsey treble stuns slack Magpies

Clint Dempsey's hat-trick helped Fulham come from behind to comprehensively thrash in-form Newcastle United 5-2 today. The United States international was named his country's player of the year yesterday and showed why with a superb second-half performance at Craven Cottage.

Having managed just one shot in an appalling first-half performance, Fulham deservedly fell behind to a superb Danny Guthrie long-range drive as half-time approached. However, Martin Jol's half-time pep talk and tactical tweak proved inspired as the west Londoners scored four goals in a 16-minute period. Danny Murphy and Bobby Zamora netted penalties either side of a Dempsey brace as Fulham ran the Magpies ragged. Hatem Ben Arfa reduced the deficit with the clock winding down, although Dempsey had the final word by firing home his third.

Coming into the match, Jol spoke of making amends for last weekend's 3-1 defeat at ten-man Blackburn Rovers but his side struggled to stamp their authority during the opening exchanges. Zamora was often isolated in attack and Alan Pardew's side dominated possession as Yohan Cabaye tried an audacious strike inside the opening minute.

David Stockdale easily gathered the effort and was not called into action again until the 13th minute when Shola Ameobi - making his 250th league appearance for the club - headed a Cabaye cross goalwards. Newcastle were impressing by the Thames and a mazy run by Ben Arfa ended in a long-range drive the Stockdale did well to parry.

Ameobi headed wide in the 21st minute as the visitors continued to press, although Damien Duff came close to giving Fulham a surprise lead four minutes later. The former Newcastle midfielder cut in from the left flank and got away a curling shot that Tim Krul did well to clutch to his chest.

That aside, though, the Cottagers were looking sloppy, which was epitomised by Philippe Senderos almost heading a Leon Best chip into his own net after ignoring calls from goalkeeper Stockdale. The west Londoners were backing off the visitors and almost paid the cost when skipper Fabricio Coloccini directed a right-wing cross goalwards, only to be denied by Stockdale.

Fulham's difficult opening period got worse when Steve Sidwell - one of Fulham's better players - limped off in the 37th minute to be replaced by Andrew Johnson, forcing Jol to alter his tactics. The substitute partnered Zamora in attack as the home side moved to a 4-4-2 formation, although it could not stop Newcastle dominating. After Stockdale tipped wide a rasping Ameobi effort, the England squad member could do nothing to stop a superb 25-yard strike by Guthrie as half-time approached.

Half-time inspiration
Jol made his second alteration of the afternoon at half-time, replacing Bryan Ruiz with Chris Baird. The change saw Fulham become a more coherent unit and one which earned a penalty six minutes into the second period when Duff was brought down inside the box. Perpetrator Davide Santon avoided a second booking of the afternoon, but saw Murphy send Krul the wrong way and slot home the resulting penalty.

With Baird shutting down the dangerous-looking Cabaye and the new-look attack working well, the Cottagers were now in the ascendancy. Only last-ditch defending stopped the home side taking the lead from an outswinging Murphy corner in the 56th minute.

First Krul reacted marvellously to stop Zamora netting from close range on the turn, before Baird saw his follow-up deflected over. Fulham continued to press and, after neat interplay between Johnson and Zamora, Krul parried the latter's shot across goal and Dempsey bundled home at the far post.

Baird fired a 35-yard effort over as the Cottagers pressed for a third, which came in the 65th minute. Again neat interplay between Fulham's strikers started the goal as Johnson laid off to Zamora and he played through Dempsey, who showed composure to fire across Krul. Fulham netted a fourth three minutes later when Johnson shrugged off a rough challenge by Mike Williamson before being hauled down by Krul, who received a booking and was then beaten from the spot by Zamora.

Ameobi thought he had reduced the deficit almost immediately with a low shot, although he was rightly adjudged offside. Fulham sat back as the game wore on, allowing Jonas Gutierrez to fire a long-range effort straight at Stockdale. Newcastle did, though, pull a goal back five minutes from time as Ben Arfa jinked past John Arne Riise to fire home, although Dempsey soon ended any hopes with his hat-trick goal. The Texan burst through the middle to latch onto a Zamora chipped pass and fire past Krul.

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Fulham hit five, Keane inspires Villa victory

Newcastle United missed a chance to rein in fourth-placed Chelsea as they succumbed to a 5-2 Premier League defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Magpies led 1-0 through Danny Guthrie's 43rd-minute effort and looked set to cut the Blues' lead over them to two points, but Fulham fought back superbly in the second half to secure only their second win in six league games.

Danny Murphy equalised from the spot in the 52nd minute after Davide Santon fouled Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey steered in a rebound, after Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul parried a Bobby Zamora shot, to make it 2-1 seven minutes later.

The American scored his second in the 65th minute before Zamora converted Fulham's second penalty, conceded by Krul for a foul on Andrew Johnson. Hatem Ben Arfa cut the gap to two, but Dempsey completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute from a Zamora pass.

QPR climb clear
Queens Park Rangers climbed out of the bottom three with a 3-1 win over bottom club Wigan Athletic at Loftus Road, in Mark Hughes' first home league game in charge.

Heidar Helguson opened the scoring with a 33rd-minute penalty after James McCarthy handled the ball in the box, before Akos Buzsaky added a second with a stunning free-kick which flew in off the post.

Hugo Rodallega's curling effort halved the deficit, and Helguson's penalty was then saved by Ali Al Habsi to keep the Latics in contention, but Tommy Smith's stunning right-footed strike from long range sealed the victory for QPR, who had taken just one point from their previous seven league games.

QPR's win dropped Wolverhampton Wanderers into the bottom three, as they lost 3-2 at home to Aston Villa, for whom former Molineux favourite Robbie Keane scored a brace. Darren Bent gave the visitors the lead in the 11th minute after he nicked the ball off Christophe Berra and was tripped in the box.

Michael Kightly levelled after 20 minutes when he shaped to cross from the right, cut inside and angled a left-foot shot across Shay Given into the far corner, and David Edwards' close-range header after half an hour put Mick McCarthy's men ahead at the break.

Keane, on loan at Villa from the Los Angeles Galaxy, levelled after 50 minutes and then drilled in a superb second in the 84th minute from the edge of the box. Karl Henry's red card for a petulant swipe at Marc Albrighton completed a miserable day for McCarthy's men, who extended their winless league run to eight games.

Rovers grab point at Goodison
QPR are also now above Blackburn Rovers, who drew 1-1 at Everton. Tim Cahill's first goal since December 2010 gave Everton a 1-0 lead. He finished from close range after a delicate chip into the box by Landon Donovan.

Rovers levelled when Tim Howard failed to deal with a high ball into the box and David Goodwillie, in the side in place of the suspended Ayegbeni Yakubu, charged down Cahill's attempted clearance to force the ball home in the 72nd minute.

Sunderland's revival under Martin O'Neill continued as they won 2-0 at home to Swansea City. They claimed their fifth win in eight league games under the Northern Irishman as Stephane Sessegnon scored the first with a wonderful angled shot following a one-two with James McClean in the 14th minute, and then set up Craig Gardner to fire in a spectacular strike.

West Bromwich Albion ended a run of three straight league defeats with a last-gasp 2-1 win at Stoke City. James Morrison gave the Baggies the lead with a swerving shot ten minutes before the break which deceived Thomas Sorensen. Cameron Jerome equalised for Stoke but Graham Dorrans' free-kick in injury time evaded everyone and found the corner of the net.

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Chelsea find no way past Norwich

Fernando Torres' problems in front of goal continued as Chelsea were held to a goalless draw at Norwich City in the Premier League's lunchtime kick-off.

The £50million forward has only scored four goals this season and has not found the net for the Blues since October. The Spain international should have ended that barren run in the second half but somehow managed to poke a shot wide when it looked easier to score.

The result means Andre Villas-Boas' men failed to gain significant ground on the three sides above them, although they would have stayed fourth whatever the score. It was also Norwich's first clean sheet of the season and a result that further enhances the reputation of their manager, Paul Lambert.

There was no place in the starting line-up for Gary Cahill, the England centre-back Chelsea recruited from Bolton Wanderers earlier in the week. David Luiz continued as John Terry's central defensive partner as Cahill, who cost £7million, was not even named among the substitutes.

Visitors start in style
Daniel Sturridge was recalled in place of Oriol Romeu as the only change from the side that had narrowly beaten Sunderland the previous week. Norwich recalled captain Grant Holt and midfielder David Fox as Lambert opted to change the side that had won 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion seven days previously.

Chelsea began imperiously with an exhibition of passing but the first chance of the game belonged to Norwich. Steve Morison set up Anthony Pilkington, whose shot from a tight angle was blocked by goalkeeper Petr Cech. The rebound almost fell perfectly for Morison, the Wales forward, but Ramires was there just in time to poke clear.

Norwich came even closer in the tenth minute when Morison set up Holt, who fired just wide after getting past Luiz. Juan Mata fired over from the edge of the box as Chelsea tried to regain their earlier poise, but when Torres tried to set Sturridge up in front of goal he found only a Norwich defender.

Holt and Morison combined again but the latter's shot from a tight angle hit only the side-netting. Torres was working hard and was denied a 27th-minute opener by John Ruddy, the Norwich goalkeeper, who got his fingertips to an effort from the outside of the Spaniard's boot that would have gone in otherwise.

Ruddy keeps Chelsea out
Frank Lampard limped off in the 35th minute with what appeared to be a calf injury and Chelsea almost fell behind before Florent Malouda came on to replace him. Bradley Johnson's shot took a deflection off Terry but Cech was able to readjust in time to save, and the half ended with Ruddy denying Mata and then Raul Meireles and Mata firing a clear chance over after doing all the hard work himself.

Luiz fired just over after the restart following an air kick from Torres, who then connected with his next try but could not hit the target. Torres should have made it 1-0 just before the hour mark when Jose Bosingwa beat Andrew Surman and supplied the perfect cross. Daniel Ayala came out to challenge but Torres should have done better than to poke wide from seven yards.

Ruddy did well to save from Mata at his near post before referee Mark Clattenburg declined to give Norwich even a free-kick when the ball clearly hit Meireles' raised arm right on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area.

Meireles almost put Chelsea ahead with a curling effort from outside the area before Ramires fired at Ruddy from even further out. Torres was replaced in the 77th minute by Romelu Lukaku as Norwich closed in on their first clean sheet of the season, although they were relieved when a shot from Mata on the turn hit the base of a post.

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Twente thump RKC on McClaren return

Steve McClaren enjoyed a winning return to the FC Twente helm this evening as his side stormed to a 5-0 Eredivisie victory over RKC Waalwijk. The Englishman, who was appointed head coach of the Enschede outfit for a second time earlier this month, looked on as his team cruised past their visitors tonight without ever really getting out of second gear.

Luuk de Jong and Emir Bajrami had the hosts 2-0 up by half-time, and after the break De Jong added another from the penalty spot before Nacer Chadli and Ola John made it five.

Also in the Dutch top flight this evening, Bas Dost struck twice as ten-man Heerenveen kept up their pursuit of European qualification with a 2-0 win at De Graafschap. The away team lost Darryl Janmaat to a first-half red-card but Dost's eye for goal proved decisive, with goals in each half earning his side a welcome victory.

NAC Breda pressed the self-destruct button as they were reduced to nine men en route to a 3-0 defeat at Excelsior. The visitors were already a goal down to Rangelo Janga's 36th-minute header when Kees Luijckx was dismissed after 56 minutes.

Roly Bonevacia followed his team-mate down the tunnel four minutes later and Excelsior duly took advantage, sealing the win with goals from Roland Alberg (63) and Darren Maatsen (89).

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Swindon stun Wigan, Bolton held in Cup

Premier League strugglers Wigan Athletic were the highest profile casualties as the FA Cup third round lived up to its fabled giant-killing tradition on Saturday. Wigan crashed out 2-1 at League Two outfit Swindon Town as the Latics' troubled season took another miserable turn. Calum McManaman had put Wigan 1-0 up but Swindon, managed by Italian Paolo Di Canio, struck back to claim a famous win with goals coming from Alan Connell and Paul Benson.

Bolton Wanderes narrowly avoided becoming another Premier League casualty as they were forced to come from behind to scramble a 2-2 draw at Macclesfield Town, the League Two side who are 64 places below Wanderers. Ivan Klasnic had fired Bolton ahead on seven minutes at Macclesfield's Moss Rose ground before the minnows hit back through Colin Daniel and Arnaud Mendy to take a 2-1 lead. David Wheater equalised for Bolton 13 minutes from time.

QPR - who have not won an FA Cup tie since 2001 - also left it late before salvaging a 1-1 against promotion-chasing League One side Milton Keynes Dons at the Stadium MK. Dean Bowditch had put the Dons on course for an upset before QPR equalised through Icelandic veteran Heidar Helguson on 89 minutes.

Other Premier League sides in action on Saturday all made sure of their places in the fourth round. A virtual second-string Tottenham Hotspur breezed past Cheltenham Town 3-0 with goals from Jermain Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Giovani Dos Santos. Fulham meanwhile crushed League One leaders Charlton Athletic 4-0 at Craven Cottage, Clint Dempsey scoring a hat-trick and Damien Duff getting on the scoresheet for Martin Jol's side.

Bad day for non-league sides
Everton brought non-league Tamworth's FA Cup campaign to an end with a 2-0 victory at Goodison Park, Johnny Heitinga and Leighton Baines getting the goals. West Bromwich Albion were comfortable 4-2 winners over Cardiff City while Swansea City were made to work hard before downing Barnsley by the same scoreline. Norwich City proved too strong for Championship side Burnley, Paul Lambert's team romping to a 4-1 win at Carrow Road.

Newcastle United won the day's only all-Premier League clash, coming from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at St James Park. David Goodwillie had shot Rovers ahead on 35 minutes before Hatem Ben Arfa equalised for the Magpies. A replay at Ewood Park looked the likeliest outcome until Jonas Gutierrez struck in the fifth minute of injury time to sink Rovers.

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis meanwhile enjoyed a winning return to his former club Gillingham, the Potters winning 3-1 at Priestfield. It was a largely disappointing day for the four non-league sides left in the draw, with only Wrexham managing to avoid defeat. Tamworth lost at Everton, Fleetwood Town were thrashed 5-1 by Championship side Blackpool as Salisbury City bowed out 3-1 at Sheffield United.

Aston Villa completed a largely trouble-free day for the Premier League's sides, strolling to a 3-1 victory over Bristol Rovers in the late kick-off courtesy of goals from Marc Albrighton, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ciaran Clark. Rovers briefly threatened a grandstand finish when Scott McGleish pulled one back on 90 minutes before being awarded a penalty a minute later. McGleish's injury time spot-kick was saved by Brad Guzan however and Villa were through.

Wrexham, authors of one of the most famous upsets in FA Cup history when they beat Arsenal in 1992 when they were bottom of the old Fourth Division, also appeared to be heading for defeat before securing a 1-1 draw at Brighton. In the early game, Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers ground out a drab 0-0 draw in a Midlands derby at St Andrews.

Liverpool had got the third round under way yesterday with a 5-1 victory over Oldham Athletic at Anfield. The pick of the third round ties falls on Sunday, when holders Manchester City take on bitter rivals Manchester United at Eastlands, with Arsenal entertaining Leeds United on Monday.

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