Soccer: Kewell goal keeps Liverpool in race

LONDON - Liverpool kept the pressure on Manchester United in the race for second place in the Premier League, with a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield yesterday.

Australian midfielder Harry Kewell got the only goal in the 40th minute but Liverpool, and specifically England striker Peter Crouch, could have had several more.

With United busy winning the League Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Wigan Athletic, Liverpool moved alongside them on 54 points, albeit from a game more. Leaders Chelsea, who beat Portsmouth 2-0 on Sunday, are 15 points clear.

Fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur are eight points back on 46.

Bolton Wanderers climbed to sixth on 42 yesterday when Kevin Nolan got a 68th-minute winner in a 2-1 home success over Fulham after Heidar Helguson had put the Londoners ahead but then scored an own goal.

In the day's other game, Middlesbrough beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 away, with two first-half goals by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to move five points clear of their opponents and eight clear of the relegation zone. West Brom's Nigel Quashie was sent off in the 54th minute for kicking out at George Boateng.

At Anfield, Liverpool were on top throughout the first half but made the breakthrough only five minutes before the interval.

England midfielder Steven Gerrard showed fine control to bring the ball down in the centre circle and then release Kewell with a pass over the top of covering defender Danny Mills, allowing the Australian to sprint away and fire low past David James.

Mills then cleared a Crouch header off the line in first-half injury time.

After the break Crouch was inches wide with a deft flick before looping a shot against the bar, James getting a faint touch, as the home side continued to make all the running.

But when City had midfielder Joey Barton sent off for a second booking for a nasty challenge on Sami Hyypia, the visitors came more into the game.

Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina, a spectator for the first hour, was forced to make an excellent diving save to tip over a Trevor Sinclair shot, while Georgios Samaras shot wide when clean through.

The Liverpool defence, so rarely pierced this season, held out to secure a morale-boosting win after the Champions League defeat at Benfica in midweek.

"We are playing well and creating chances but can't get that second goal," Kewell said.

"But sometimes one is enough." Crouch had a similar view: "It was a shame we didn't get the second goal," he said after being named man of the match.

"We had chances but it just wouldn't go in. But when we keep a tight ship at the back we've always got a chance of winning."

- REUTERS