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Liverpool 1-1 Wigan Athletic



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Updated Feb 12, 2011 2:27 PM ET
Wigan ended Liverpool's four-match winning run as Steve Gohouri earned the Latics a precious Premier League point in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
A fifth successive victory would have put the Reds within four points of fourth-placed Chelsea but despite dominating two-thirds of the game they failed to press home their advantage.

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Raul Meireles impressed once again, extending his remarkable goalscoring spree to five in his last six matches, but at the other end Jose Reina's goal was breached for the first time in 463 minutes when Gohouri prodded home from close range.
However, another positive note for Reds boss Kenny Dalglish was January signing Luis Suarez, on his first start since joining from Ajax.
He showed why the Merseysiders parted with £22.8million with a display full of energy, invention and determination.
Had the Uruguay international enjoyed more fortune his side would have won the game, having had a shot to make it 2-0 rebound off a post before the interval and a second-half free-kick cannon back off the crossbar.
Wigan, to give them credit, enjoyed a good spell after the interval which culminated in their goal and ensured Liverpool's record against them now stands at just two victories in their last seven meetings.
Suarez was into the action early, having a fourth-minute shout for a penalty turned down after a quick counter-attack from a corner and combining well down the right with Dirk Kuyt, who himself had a shot from the edge of the penalty area which had Ali Al Habsi grasping to hang on at the second attempt.
But the Wigan goalkeeper could do nothing about Liverpool's opener in the 24th minute as Meireles continued his scoring run.
Fabio Aurelio's cross from the left byline was partially deflected by the head of Gohouri but only as far as the Portugal international 16 yards out and he smashed home a right-foot volley .
Three minutes later Suarez almost doubled the lead with a manoeuvre reminiscent of the now-departed Fernando Torres.
He wriggled his way into the left edge of the penalty area before opening his body to shoot right-footed past Al Habsi only to see the ball rebound off the far post.
The Uruguayan was a willing outlet for Liverpool and Gohouri was booked on the half-hour for clattering into the back of him.
Wigan were in danger of being overwhelmed as Meireles continued to find space in and around their penalty area, blazing over from range on one occasion.
The closest the Latics came to producing a response was when winger Charles N'Zogbia fired in a low free-kick which Reina claimed easily late in the first half.
Meireles was replaced by David Ngog four minutes into the second half, with the Portugal midfielder heading straight down the tunnel to receive treatment.
But Suarez showed no signs of fading in only his second match since December 8 and Antolin Alcaraz had to resort to a foul to prevent him racing into the penalty area, for which he was booked.

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But Liverpool's inability to seize complete control of the game and score a second gave the visitors hope and the threat of an equaliser turned into a reality in the 65th minute.
N'Zogbia curled an inswinging left-footed cross from the right which found its way to Gohouri who stabbed home from two yards out at the far post.
There was a suspicion of offside but it was only relevant if Alcaraz had got the slightest of touches on the way through and it was impossible to tell.
That was the first goal Reina had conceded in five matches and it threatened to undermine all Liverpool's previous hard work in putting together a run of four successive victories.
Suarez continued to impress and when Caldwell fouled him on the edge of the area in the 77th minute he picked himself up to curl a shot over the wall but onto the crossbar.
The Uruguayan, seemingly almost single-handedly at times, tried desperately to find the winner but found Latics captain Caldwell in particularly resolute form.
Aurelio fired a shot just over, which was followed by Martin Skrtel's header in added time as the hosts failed to find a way through.
The result put a check, for now, on lofty ambitions to break back into the top four but despite dropping points Dalglish will still harbour hopes they can still pose a challenge later in the season.
Unfortunately for Wigan, they remain in the bottom three.

Lille warn Blues over Hazard





Updated Feb 12, 2011 8:42 AM ET
Lille's vice general director Frederic Paquet has warned Chelsea not to approach star man Eden Hazard behind their backs.
The Blues have reportedly made an enquiry to the Ligue One club about the availability of the promising winger.
But Lille intend to keep hold of the 20-year-old Belgian international and have issued a hands off warning to the west London giants.
Pacquet, speaking to French sports paper L'Equipe, said: "If Chelsea directly contacted Eden, we would take offence at it. That is not the right custom.
"No one is up for sale - that is very clear. We want to keep as many players as possible."

Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Newcastle




Updated Feb 12, 2011 1:58 PM ET
Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson pulled off a superb second-half save to ensure Rovers took a point from a 0-0 draw with Newcastle at Ewood Park.
Robinson's lightning reflexes helped him push a blistering Fabricio Coloccini drive over the bar in the 54th minute as the visitors dominated after the break.

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Roque Santa Cruz had headed a ninth minute effort against the post for Rovers, who toiled for much of the afternoon while Peter Lovenkrands lofted a 14th minute effort onto the top of the bar.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew had been able to name an unchanged side following the stunning comeback against Arsenal last week, with stop-gap striker and former Rovers star Shefki Kuqi on the bench.
With Rovers having come off worse in a seven-goal thriller at Wigan, it was not surprising both teams started where they left off and produced a richly entertaining first quarter-hour.
Jermaine Jones' attempt at a Wayne Rooney-style overhead kick in the third minute failed to have quite the same impact as the American missed the ball and clattered Mike Williamson.
Newcastle came close two minutes later when Lovenkrands played in Jose Enrique down the left and his ball across the face of goal was palmed clear by Paul Robinson.
In what was warming into a feisty encounter, Cheik Tiote was warned for a rash challenge on Nikola Kalinic, and Kevin Nolan and David Dunn almost came to blows on the half-way line.
Rovers should have grabbed the lead in the ninth minute when captain Christopher Samba's flick in the box set up Santa Cruz for a header which struck Steve Harper's right-hand post.
Lovenkrands had an even better chance for the visitors on 14 minutes when he was put clear by Enrique but his left-foot lob over Robinson dropped onto the top of the bar.
As the fast pace continued Rovers had another chance when Dunn blazed over the bar after good work from Junior Hoilett down the Rovers left.
Michel Salgado gifted Newcastle an opening in the 25th minute with a wayward cross-field pass which let in Lovenkrands, but the Dane ran into Ryan Nelsen who cleared.
Nelsen headed away another cross from the dangerous Enrique as the game's early excitement faded with a series of minor infringements ruining any momentum the game could gather.
The visitors dominated from the start of the second period against a Blackburn side forced to make two changes due to injuries to Santa Cruz and Junior Hoilett.
Joey Barton had the first chance of the second half for Newcastle after Jonas Gutierrez's charge down the left, but Barton's swept left-foot effort sailed well over the bar.

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Newcastle came closer on 54 when Coloccini chested down a Barton corner from the left and rammed a rising left-foot shot which Robinson did superbly to tip over the bar.
Barton almost found Best in the box on the end of a neat one-two and as Rovers struggled to clear it was Gutierrez's turn to fire the loose ball over the bar.
Rovers were being pinned back in their own half with captain Samba outstanding. But without the presence of Santa Cruz they were struggling to create anything in the visitors' half.
After completely dominating for the first half hour of the second half, Newcastle lived on their nerves in the 81st minute when a deep Pedersen corner caused chaos in the box.
If the near-miss was designed to belatedly stir the home side into life it failed to work as both Barton and Gutierrez were only let down at the other end by the quality of their final balls.
Pardew threw Kuqi into the fray for the three minutes of added time no doubt in the hope of a fairytale start in the black and white stripes but referee Stuart Atwell had other ideas.

West Bromwich Albion 3-3 West Ham




Updated Feb 12, 2011 1:50 PM ET
Demba Ba scored twice as West Ham climbed off the foot of the Premier League table with a stunning fight back in a 3-3 draw at West Brom.
Albion produced a fine first-half performance in front of their new head coach Roy Hodgson, who was watching from the stands, scoring twice in the opening eight minutes through Graham Dorrans and Jerome Thomas before Winston Reid's own goal put them 3-0 ahead just after the half-hour mark.

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But things could not have been more different after the break as a Ba double - on his first start for the Hammers - and a header from Carlton Cole in between ensured the match finished all-square.
The Baggies, overseen by caretaker boss Michael Appleton, served up a treat for Hodgson in the first half but the former Liverpool manager, who was announced as Roberto Di Matteo's successor yesterday and takes up the reins on Monday, will be deeply concerned by the capitulation which followed.
West Brom remain above the relegation zone on goal difference alone, while West Ham are two points below them, having moved off the bottom up to 19th.
The hosts appeared eager to impress Hodgson from the off and they made the best possible start as Dorrans put them in front after only three minutes.
The Scotland midfielder, who had not scored all season, opened his account in spectacular fashion, unleashing a fierce drive from outside the box that flew into the top corner.
Two minutes later Albion almost doubled their lead as Robert Green palmed Peter Odemwingie's cross to Chris Brunt, whose shot was on target but cannoned away off his team-mate Marc-Antoine Fortune.
That was a near miss, but West Brom were looking rampant, and within moments, they had made it 2-0.
Fortune made amends by providing the assist, laying the ball to Thomas who then coolly passed it across Green and into the net.
The momentum showed no sign of letting up as Thomas muscled past two defenders, rounded Green and went down under the attentions of Reid, but referee Lee Mason waved away appeals for a penalty.
Youssouf Mulumbu then had to be withdrawn for James Morrison, but West Brom remained on the front foot, with Odemwingie sending a free header from Dorrans' corner into Green's arms.
West Ham thought they had pulled one back when Cole was slipped in and beat Boaz Myhill, but the effort was disallowed for offside.
Reid then survived another scare at the other end when his apparent handball in the box went unpunished.
The New Zealand defender was having a torrid afternoon and it got worse moments later as Albion extended their advantage.
Dorrans sent a free-kick into the area and it deflected in off a hapless Reid to put the Baggies three up.
Hammers captain Scott Parker tried to respond but Gonzalo Jara did enough to put him off as he shaped to shoot and then Myhill tipped Ba's strike on to the post, Morrison clearing the danger.
But West Brom were soon attacking again, with Dorrans bringing a great save out of Green and Thomas shooting wide from distance.
West Ham saw another attempt hit the woodwork in first-half stoppage time as Gary O'Neil cracked a shot against the bar, but the rebound went unconverted, as did a Manuel da Costa header soon after.
The visitors needed something quick at the start of the second period and found it five minutes in thanks to Ba, who chested down Mark Noble's lofted pass and tucked the ball past Myhill.

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The goal seemed to galvanise the visitors and Myhill had to get down to stop Luis Boa Morte's header from a corner.
Hammers boss Avram Grant then threw on Frederic Piquionne for Boa Morte and the striker's impact was almost immediate as he nodded Noble's free-kick back across goal for Cole to head in and make it 3-2.
Suddenly, with more than half an hour to go, it was game on and Piquionne nearly drew things level with a header that bounced off the bar.
West Brom managed to switch play and Odemwingie was denied from the edge of the box by another fine Green save.
But West Ham were in the ascendancy and went close again when Ba's shot was blocked by Nicky Shorey.
The Senegal forward then sent a shot into the side-netting, and with seven minutes of normal time remaining, he scored the third West Ham goal which had by that point seemed almost inevitable.
Noble was the provider once more, delivering a cross that was not dealt with and fell to Ba, who volleyed against the turf and in.
Odemwingie and Piquionne had chances to seal victory in the dying moments, but it was honours even come the final whistle.