• Premier League round-up

Torres finally scores as Chelsea stay in title hunt

ESPN staff
April 23, 2011
Fernando Torres recovered from a sticky moment with the pitch to sweep home with his left foot to score his first Chelsea goal © Getty Images
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Fernando Torres finally found the net in the blue of Chelsea as Carlo Ancelotti's men ensured they go into the final four games of the season six points behind Manchester United, defeating West Ham 3-0 after United had beaten Everton in the lunchtime kick-off.

The reigning champions are clinging to the hope that they can apply late pressure to Sir Alex Ferguson's side when they visit Old Trafford on May 8. And they will head north with new confidence injected into £50 million signing Torres, who scored six minutes from time to end three goalless months.

Prior to Torres' strike, there will have been little to concern United at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea were thankful for two stunning Petr Cech saves before Frank Lampard opened the scoring. Ancelotti's defence was all over the place in the first half, with Cech forced into desperate action to deny Jonathan Spector's diving header and Freddie Sears' excellent piece of improvisation at a corner.

Lampard ensured the Blues went into half-time ahead though, side-footing Ashley's Cole's low centre into the top corner, albeit against the run of play.

Still West Ham had chances to end Chelsea's title hopes as Carlton Cole and, in particular, Robbie Keane both wasted glorious second-half opportunities, while at the other end David Luiz sent a delicious 25-yard curler crashing off Robert Green's bar.

The defining act was written for Torres though, who reacted brilliantly to swivel and score with his left foot after the rain-sodden pitch had stopped him in his tracks when clean through. Florent Malouda then added a last-minute stunner to complete the victory.

Earlier in the day, Javier Hernandez proved the hero as Manchester United grabbed a late 1-0 win against Everton to further enhance their Premier League title bid. Hernandez, having been foiled by Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard on more than one occasion in the preceding 83 minutes at Old Trafford, was in the right place at the right time to nod Antonio Valencia's pinpoint ball just inside the scrambling American's far post.

Javier Hernandez eventually got the better of Everton © PA Photos
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Sir Alex Ferguson made a number of changes for the contest, resting the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Ryan Giggs ahead of the midweek Champions League semi-final with Schalke, while Moyes clearly set his side out to be solid in midfield. Despite that, United started the brighter of the two teams, Nani firing straight at Howard after good work from Wayne Rooney.

At half-time Everton made changes, with Tim Cahill and Victor Anichebe replacing the ineffective duo of Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Jermaine Beckford, and they almost had the desired effect as Jack Rodwell forced Edwin van der Sar into a world class save. Gradually United took back control of the game, Hernandez testing Howard's reflexes with a back-post header that looked destined for the net.

The little Mexican had his revenge minutes later though, as the No. 19 nodded the ball inside the near post in an almost identical situation from Valencia's clipped cross, moving United a step closer to Premier League title No. 19.

Sunderland can begin to plan for another season in the Premier League after they snapped a four-game losing streak, beating Wigan 4-2 at the Stadium of Light. The result lifts the Black Cats past the safety marker of 40 points, while Wigan drop back into the relegation zone.

Steve Bruce's injury-afflicted side must have felt like the footballing gods were conspiring against them as Phil Bardsley and Danny Welbeck both limped off in the opening half, and that continued to appear the case when Mohamed Diame scored a superb long-range strike.

However, Roberto Martinez's men are yet to win back-to-back league games under his stewardship, and Sunderland were level within minutes through Asamoah Gyan's first goal in six matches. Jordan Henderson then grabbed a crucial second for Sunderland before the youngster added his own second to Stephane Sessegnon's penalty to surely guarantee the Black Cats' stay in the top flight.

Blackpool moved out of the relegation zone at Bloomfield Road despite extending their winless run to seven matches with a 1-1 draw against Newcastle. Ian Holloway's men now find themselves out of trouble on goal difference, with only four games remaining in the season.

Peter Lovenkrands silenced the Tangerines on 17 minutes, and Holloway was livid on the half-hour when he felt DJ Campbell should have been awarded a penalty, only for replays to prove Tim Krul had got a crucial touch on the ball before colliding with the Blackpool striker.

Steven Fletcher headed Wolves into the lead © PA Photos
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Holloway's anger did not last long though as Campbell scored an equaliser almost immediately, converting Charlie Adam's wicked corner, albeit with the help of Jose Enrique who positioned himself two yards behind his own goal-line.

Wolves are off the foot of the table but still in deep trouble after they drew 1-1 with Fulham at Molineux. Mick McCarthy's men had lost their previous two fixtures by a three-goal margin, but they had the chance to put their recent woes behind them thanks to an early goal from Steven Fletcher.

Fulham were much the better side in the opening 20 minutes, but that changed when Fletcher converted Karl Henry's wonderful cross. However, Andrew Johnson emerged from the bench to restore parity, leaving Wolves 19th in the table.

Tottenham failed to apply pressure to Manchester City in the hunt for the final Champions League qualifying spot, drawing 2-2 with West Brom at White Hart Lane. The result means Spurs trail City by a point, having played the extra game, and they are still to face Roberto Mancini's men at Eastlands.

Harry Redknapp's side, who had Gareth Bale but no Aaron Lennon in their starting line-up, suffered a disastrous start on home turf, with Peter Odemwingie handing Albion the lead inside five minutes after capitalising on a hamstring injury suffered by last man Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Spurs were level before the half-hour though, thanks to a rasping Roman Pavlyuchenko drive that took Scott Carson by surprise. And they then took the lead through a landmark strike from Jermain Defoe, his 100th league goal, midway through the second half. The Baggies are a difficult team to beat under Roy Hodgson though, and Simon Cox came up with a contender for goal of the month to snatch a point.

Dirk Kuyt grabbed Liverpool's second at Anfield © PA Photos
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Liverpool were without Andy Carroll for the arrival of Birmingham at Anfield, and the Reds coped admirably to win 5-0. Kenny Dalglish's men are almost guaranteed a top-six finish, now sitting five points ahead of Everton thanks to a Maxi Rodriguez hat-trick.

Dalglish is yet to lose a league game at Anfield since returning as manager, and Rodriguez gave him a flying start, reacting first to poke home Ben Foster's spillage after a superb shot from Jay Spearing. It simply was not Foster's day as he was hopelessly exposed for Liverpool's second, making top drawer saves from Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt, with the Dutchman eventually forcing the ball home at the third attempt.

Foster was then forced off injured before the interval, and Liverpool continued to find the net after the break, Rodriguez grabbing his second following more fine work by Suarez. The Argentine then completed his hat-trick with 17 minutes remaining, before Joe Cole completed the rout to move the Reds within three points of Spurs.

In the afternoon's other fixture, Aston Villa played without the guidance of the hospital-bound Gerard Houllier against Stoke, and they came away from Villa Park with a 1-1 draw.

Rory Delap's long throws do not grab as many headlines as they did in the Potters' debut Premier League season, but it was one of his trademark missiles that allowed Kenwyne Jones to glance home the opener on 20 minutes. However, Villa were level by half-time thanks to a stunning 18-yard header from Darren Bent.

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