Liverpool dominate Bolton to move top

Victories for Liverpool and Chelsea lift them to top of league while Blackburn sink to bottom after two missed penalties

Martin Skrtel
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Charlie Adam celebrates scoring Liverpool’s third with fellow new boy Jordan Henderson, who also scored [GETTY] 

Liverpool moved to the top of the English Premier League with a superb display over Bolton on Saturday.

The 3-1 victory took the Reds to seven points with Chelsea and Wolves, although Liverpool are ahead by one on goal difference.

Kenny Dalglish’s men looked like a force to be reckoned with dominating all over the pitch.

Dalglish will be delighted at how easily his new signings Stuart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson have fitted into the team, with both Adam and Henderson putting themselves on the scoresheet for the first time.

Last season’s signings Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll also seem to be settling in well with Suarez one of the major talents to have emerged recently in the league.

Henderson, who joined from Sunderland, struck in the 15th minute at Anfield after Jussi Jaaskelainen parried a volley from Stewart Downing.

Former Blackpool midfielder Adam whipped in the corner that Martin Skrtel headed home in the 52nd.

And Adam got his first goal for Liverpool a minute later when he finished off good work from Dirk Kuyt by firing low past Jaaskelainen.

Results & fixtures

Saturday August 27

undefined Aston Villa 0-0 Wolves
undefined Wigan 2-0 QPR
undefined Blackburn 0-1 Everton undefined Chelsea 3-1 Norwich 
undefined Swansea 0-0 Sunderland
undefined Liverpool 3-1 Bolton

Sunday August 28

undefined Newcastle v Fulham
undefined Tottenham v Man City
undefined West Brom v Stoke
undefined Man Utd v Arsenal

Liverpool’s performance was so strong that they conceded from perhaps their only real error of the game.

The Reds took their eye off the ball just long enough to allow Bolton a consolation goal, Martin Petrov’s break only half-stopped by Jamie Carraagher and Ivan Klasnic sweeping in from 12 yards.

The win gave Liverpool seven points after three matches – the same tally it took seven matches to hit last season 

Chelsea are tied on points with Liverpool at the top after they beat Premier League new boys Norwich 3-1 on Saturday.

However, victory came at a cost as striker Didier Drogba was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious injury.  

The Ivory Coast forward fell heavily following an aerial collision with Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy midway through the second half and needed lengthy treatment before he was taken for further examination.

A rare goal from Jose Bosingwa had given Andre Villas-Boas’ side the early lead but Norwich recovered to equalise through captain Grant Holt just after the hour mark following a defensive mix-up.

Frank Lampard’s penalty put Chelsea ahead once more after Ruddy had been sent off for conceding it and debutant Juan Mata scored the third in stoppage time.

Dark day for Blackburn

Blackburn sank to the foot of the Premier League after going down to a late penalty in their 1-0 home defeat against Everton having earlier missed two spot-kicks of their own.

Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta kept his cool in stoppage time to earn all three points, but his Everton team should have been dead and buried after Rovers spurned two glorious opportunities to put the game out of reach.

David Hoilett and Argentinian substitute Mauro Formica were both unsuccessful with second-half spot kicks as Everton miraculously came away with three points which move them up to 10th in the table.

It is the first time lowly Rovers have lost their first three league games of a season since 1951.

At the Liberty Stadium, Swansea were unable to put their first Premier League goal on the board after being held to a 0-0 draw by Sunderland. 

Brendan Rodgers’ side have now played three league games since their promotion from the Championship last season and have failed to scored against Manchester City, Wigan and now Sunderland.

Record signing Danny Graham headed their best chance wide when unmarked inside the box, while the former Watford striker forced two fine saves from Simon Mignolet and Scott Sinclair stuck the bar.

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       Tim Howard was Everton’s hero after saving a penalty and watching another hit woodwork [GALLO/GETTY]

The Black Cats, also still without a league win this season, threatened through Asamoah Gyan early on but the Ghana forward fluffed their best chance when he miscontrolled a Jack Colback pass, while debutant John O’Shea hit the bar.

Argentine striker Franco Di Santo scored either side of half-time to earn Wigan a 2-0 win over promoted Queens Park Rangers and maintain his team’s unbeaten record in the Premier League this season.

The former Chelsea forward drilled a finish into the top corner in the 41st minute for the opening goal and wrapped up victory with a deflected shot from just outside the penalty box in the 66th.

Aston Villa and Wolves also remain unbeaten in the Premier League after the local rivals drew 0-0.

Wolves, who just avoided relegation last season, have now taken seven points from their opening three games after surviving a second-half battering by Villa.

Mick McCarthy’s Wolves rarely threatened but captain Roger Johnson was solid in defence to repel the Villa danger.

“A clean sheet was big for us,” Johnson said.

“I said to the boys that we would need to weather the storm and we did. We’ll take seven points so far. We know we’re a very good team and we’ll try and finish as high as possible. We’re a good side.”

Source: News Agencies