BPL Saturday Review

A review of Saturday’s action in the Premier League. Tottenham clinched a massive upset over Liverpool with a 2-1 win.

Roman Pavlyuchenko pounced on the stroke of full-time to lift Tottenham off the foot of Barclays Premier League as they came from behind to beat former leaders Liverpool 2-1.

The Reds took the lead with just two minutes on the clock through a magnificent finish by Dirk Kuyt that saw Heurelho Gomes exposed yet again.

Jamie Carragher’s own goal levelled the scores and, with injury-time approaching, Pavlyuchenko tucked home a Darren Bent pass to inflict a first defeat of the season on the Reds, continuing Spurs’ good form since Harry Redknapp took over.

With the Reds failing to take even a point, Chelsea are back on top as Nicolas Anelka grabbed to inspire a 5-0 win over Sunderland.

Deco had already hit the post when Alex pounced from close range for the opener after 27 minutes. Anelka then nipped in ahead of Alex to add a second moments later and the Frenchman tapped in to make it 3-0 at half-time.

Lampard’s 100th league goal made it four before Anelka completed his hat-trick from close range.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane spent the second half watching from the stands after being sent from the bench for protesting about Anelka’s first goal, for which the striker appeared offside.

Elsewhere, Arsenal failed to deal with Rory Delap’s long throws as they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.

Delap’s dangerous deliveries caused problems for the 10-man Gunners throughout the game at the Britannia Stadium and the visitors were punished as Ricardo Fuller and Seyi Olofinjana pounced.

Arsenal’s misery was compounded when substitute Robin van Persie was sent off for barging into goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, while Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott left the pitch in considerable pain - the latter with his left arm in a sling. Gael Clichy scored a late consolation for the Gunners.

Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice as Manchester United saw off brave Hull 4-3 at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese drilled the opener after three minutes before Hull showed more of the spirit which has served them well this term as Daniel Cousin glanced in an Andy Dawson free-kick to level.

Michael Carrick finished off a sweeping move to restore United’s lead and Ronaldo’s deflected header gave them a third before the break.

Nemanja Vidic turned in a fourth from a corner after 57 minutes but Bernard Mendy pulled one back with a fine lob and a Geovanni penalty made the closing moments difficult for the hosts.

Keith Andrews scored a late equaliser as 10-man Blackburn drew 2-2 at West Brom.

The Baggies had battled back to lead through Roman Bednar and Ishmael Miller in the second half after Benni McCarthy’s penalty had put Rovers ahead.

McCarthy struck in the 13th minute but was then sent off after earning a second yellow card for handball.

Everton left it late for the second time this week as Louis Saha opened his Toffees account with an 87th-minute winner against Fulham at Goodison Park.

Both sides hit the woodwork, Marouane Fellaini for the hosts and Bobby Zamora for Fulham, but there was little to excite until Saha came off the bench to head home Leon Osman’s cross.

The goal secured back-to-back victories for David Moyes’ side after their last-gasp midweek win over Bolton.

Emile Heskey also struck late as Wigan claimed a dramatic 2-1 win at Tony Adams’ Portsmouth.

Pompey looked to have salvaged a deserved point when Niko Kranjcar rewarded them for their second-half dominance with an 82nd-minute equaliser.

Wigan had taken the lead with Amr Zaki’s penalty but Pompey had the better of the chances with Peter Crouch, twice, and Sylvain Distin hitting the bar.

Mido’s equaliser saw Middlesbrough claim a 1-1 draw at home to West Ham.

The Egyptian drilled in a low free-kick on 83 minutes to cancel out Hayden Mullins’ 21st-minute strike.

Mullins initially fluffed his shot but got lucky as the ball spun behind him and he made no mistake with a powerful drive into the roof of the net.