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Torres sets up Reds winner after Newcastle rout

Maxi Rodriguez had been a threat throughout the second half © PA Photos

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Premier League gallery

Fernando Torres redeemed himself after a previously dire performance by providing a magical assist to help Liverpool out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory at Bolton.

The Spanish striker had been guilty of missing Liverpool's best chance of the match in the first half, over-complicating matters when one-on-one with Jussi Jaaskelainen before eventually poking the ball well wide. The miss summed up Torres' performance for 86 minutes, but then he injected a touch of class to help Liverpool record their third league win of the season.

Sensing the darting run of Maxi Rodriguez in behind him, Torres helped the ball on past Gary Cahill with an inside-of-the-foot backheel to allow Rodriguez to toe-poke a crucial winner for Roy Hodgson's side.

Both teams had missed hugely presentable chances earlier in the match, with Gerrard twice dragging wide from in front of goal in addition to Torres' poor first-half effort. Bolton gave as good as they got though, and a Zat Knight flick finished inches wide of the far upright with Pepe Reina well beaten.

Victory lifts Liverpool up to 12th, while Bolton stay tenth.

Kevin Nolan showed wonderful skill for the opener © PA Photos

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Any doubts surrounding the future of Chris Hughton at Newcastle were surely extinguished on Sunday as the Magpies triumphed 5-1 over Sunderland, for whom Titus Bramble was sent off.

Hughton has seen his job come under scrutiny in recent weeks, despite leading Newcastle back into the Premier League and into ninth position in the table prior to the Tyne-Wear derby. Defeat would have made his position even less secure, but Kevin Nolan and Shola Ameobi inspired a 90-minute blitz that threatened to lift the roof off St James' Park.

Nolan scored twice in eight first-half minutes to leave Sunderland boss Steve Bruce visibly dejected on the sidelines, before things got even worse later in the contest. Nolan's opener was an exhibition in improvisation as he reacted to a loose ball with his back to goal from a corner, hooking the ball over his shoulder to break the deadlock.

Backed by 52,000 roaring Geordies, Newcastle flooded forward in search of a second and, after Andy Carroll's spectacular attempt at a volley cannoned across goal, Nolan was in the right place to double his and Newcastle's tally.

A Shola Ameobi penalty on the stroke of half time, awarded for a reckless foul by Nedum Onuoha on Jonas Gutierrez, left Sunderland in turmoil ahead of the second half, yet things still got worse as Titus Bramble justifiably saw red for a dangerous and professional foul.

Already dominant with 11 men, Newcastle were now prepared to rub their neighbours' faces in it, and Ameobi added his second with a thunderous volley after Carroll's header had rebounded off the bar. Still there were 20 minutes left for Sunderland to suffer, and Nolan added to their woes as he once again benefited from the aerial ability of Carroll, completing his hat-trick before Darren Bent grabbed a last-minute consolation.

Nigel Reo-Coker and Craig Gardner came to blows © PA Photos

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Aston Villa failed to maintain their impressive record over their local rivals Birmingham as neither side found the net in a gritty 0-0 draw at Villa Park.

Just a day after learning the Midlands rivals would meet in the Carling Cup quarter-finals, Gerard Houllier's side, who have won their last six games against Birmingham, were denied by the woodwork in the dying minutes.

Birmingham enjoyed the better of a scrappy opening half and were denied a penalty when Howard Webb rejected claims that Nigel Reo-Coker handled the ball in the penalty area. The pace of the game picked up in the second half, and Villa began to find their feet, with captain Reo-Coker forcing a save from Ben Foster.

Defender Ciaran Clark suffered a broken nose after his header snuck wide of Foster's post. Clark's effort had beaten Foster after John Carew knocked the ball back, but was clattered by Foster's knee. Ashley Young had the chance to snatch all three points late on for Villa after beating Liam Ridgewell, but his powerful strike clattered the woodwork.

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