• Premier League round-up

City frustrated by Stoke, Wigan stun Liverpool

ESPN staff
March 24, 2012
Liverpool suffered only their second home defeat in the league this season © Getty Images
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Liverpool suffered their fifth defeat in six league matches as they were upset by Wigan at Anfield, while Manchester City returned to the top of the league - but could only draw with Stoke.

Arsenal took another step closer to a place in next season's Champions League, beating Aston Villa after Chelsea drew with Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Bolton defeated Blackburn in the Trotters' first match since Fabrice Muamba's cardiac arrest.

Liverpool fell further away from the top four as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to 19th-place Wigan.

The Latics, who had not lost any of their last three against Liverpool, set themselves on course to continue that run when Shaun Maloney struck from the spot following Martin Skrtel's foul on Victor Moses. The Reds were poor in the first half, prompting Kenny Dalglish to send on Andy Carroll for Jordan Henderson, who was attracting the crowd's ire, at half-time - and soon after the interval Liverpool were level: Luis Suarez equalised having been teed up by Steven Gerrard's pass.

Suarez thought he had turned the game on its head when he had the ball in the back of the net - but it was ruled out for handball, and Wigan were back in front decisively as Gary Caldwell silenced Anfield, bamboozling Carroll before producing a fine finish.

A wonder-strike from Peter Crouch was not enough to earn Stoke three points against Manchester City as the teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium.

Crouch's breathtaking volley from 30 yards gave the hosts the lead in the second half, but Yaya Toure's deflected strike at least ensured City earned a point. City are now level on points with Manchester United having played one game more; United play at home to Fulham on Monday.

Arsenal made it seven successive league victories for the first time since 2007 - and moved three points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham - by beating Aston Villa 3-0.

The Gunners had a disrupted opening to the match, with Laurent Koscielny injured in the warm-up and replacement Johan Djourou floored in the early minutes, but took the lead when Kieran Gibbs fired past Shay Given, who will be disappointed with his effort to keep it out. Gibbs' England team-mate Theo Walcott doubled the advantage shortly after, gathering Alex Song's fine chipped pass and drilling home to continue his recent good form. Mikel Arteta put the gloss on the result with a 35-yard free-kick during injury time.

Tottenham took a crucial step towards beating Chelsea to a top-four finish with a more-than-deserved 0-0 draw in the London derby at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs produced arguably their most disciplined away performance of the season to stay five points clear of the fifth-placed Blues, who now face an uphill battle to qualify for next season's Champions League. It could have been even worse for Chelsea, with Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor both missing virtual open goals as Tottenham enjoyed the better chances. The draw extended Spurs' winless run to five matches but this may prove their most crucial point of the campaign on a ground where they have not tasted victory for more than 22 years.

David Wheater scored twice for Bolton against Blackburn © Getty Images
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Bolton Wanderers climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers. Following a pre-match tribute to Muamba, who is currently recovering in hospital, the Trotters forged ahead in the first half when defender David Wheater met Martin Petrov's cross. Wheater scoring once was unlikely enough, yet he added a second seven minutes later, rising to convert Ryo Miyaichi's corner. Blackburn came back into the game thanks to a strike from Steven Nzonzi, who headed in Morten Gamst Pedersen's long throw, but they could not find an equaliser.

Wolves are three points adrift at the bottom of the table following a 2-1 defeat at Norwich. Wolves winger Matt Jarvis broke the deadlock by steering in Michael Kightly's cross - but the visitors were ahead for just a minute before Grant Holt produced a dinked finish to level up. And gloom once again descended on Wolves when Holt, who has been discussed as an England candidate, added a second from the penalty spot. The Norwich striker's afternoon was marred when he saw red late in the second half for a foul on Kightly.

QPR are in 18th place, one point from safety, after they had Djibril Cisse sent off for the second time in four games in a 3-1 loss to Sunderland.

James McClean, who signed a new deal with the Black Cats this week, celebrated by laying on the opener for Nicklas Bendtner: the Republic of Ireland international delivered a sumptuous cross, and Bendtner could not miss with a header from close range. QPR's task was made significantly harder when Cisse was sent off for a wild two-footed lunge on Fraizer Campbell - and the game was effectively over when McClean turned from provider to scorer with a deflected goal. McClean had his fingerprints on all of Sunderland's good work, and he laid the third on a plate for Stephane Sessegnon. Taye Taiwo pulled one back with a free-kick.

Everton are now two points behind rivals Liverpool after becoming only the third team to win at Swansea in the league this season, triumphing 2-0. Following an uneventful first half, Everton defender Leighton Baines grabbed his fifth of the season by curling in a free-kick, while January signing Nikica Jelavic notched a second.

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