Soccer: Injury-time goal gives Liverpool victory over Arsenal

LONDON - A superb stoppage time winner by striker Neil Mellor gave Liverpool a dramatic 2-1 victory over struggling English premier league soccer champions Arsenal at Anfield today.

Liverpool took a deserved first-half lead with a cracking shot from the edge of the area by Spanish playmaker Xabi Alonso, while Arsenal looked to have earned a draw after skipper Patrick Vieira knocked in a 57th minute equaliser.

But Mellor's last-gasp drive consigned Arsenal to their second league defeat of the season and handed title rivals Chelsea a commanding five-point lead at the top.

Third-placed Everton ground out a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur ended a run of six league defeats with a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over 10-man Middlesbrough.

But the main attraction today was at Anfield, where Liverpool dominated the first half and Arsenal looked to have secured a deserved point for their second half-display.

Mellor, playing only because of injuries to regular strikers Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros, rose to the occasion with his first premier league goal of the season -- a thundering shot on the bounce from 25m.

The result will be another bodyblow to the English champions, whose season has rapidly been turning sour since their record 49-match unbeaten league run was ended by Manchester United on October 24.

Arsenal, who are also battling to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage, have taken just six points from a possible 18 on domestic duty and would have ended today in third place had Everton won their game at St James' Park.

Newcastle made an ideal start when Wales striker Craig Bellamy worked a neat one-two with Dutch partner Patrick Kluivert and sped through to score after only five minutes.

Further chances went begging for Newcastle before Everton midfielder Lee Carsley curled a spectacular free kick over their wall in the 56th minute, while Bellamy had a close-range shot blocked in the closing minutes at St James' Park.

Everton stay third on 30 points, one behind champions Arsenal. Chelsea, who thrashed Charlton Athletic 4-0 yesterday, are top on 36 points.

Spurs were helped to their much-needed victory at White Hart Lane by a red card five minutes before the break for Boro's French defender Franck Queudrue.

They capitalised four minutes after the restart when England striker Jermain Defoe fired home and Mali international Frederic Kanoute sealed the victory in the 76th minute.

- REUTERS