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Gerrard sinks Man City
25/11/2006 20:42 - (SA)
London - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard broke his Premiership goal-drought with a stunning strike to earn a 1-0 home win against Manchester City on Saturday.
By his own admission Gerrard has been below his best this season, but he is finally beginning to hit peak form and, after scoring in the midweek Champions League win against PSV Eindhoven, he provided a moment of brilliance to sink City.
With Rafael Benitez's side struggling to break down the visitors, England star Gerrard pounced on a loose ball and surged forward before driving a superb shot past Nicky Weaver in the 67th minute.
City have the worst away record in the Premiership this season after taking just a single point from their first seven matches on their travels, but Stuart Pearce's men were able to frustrate Liverpool for long spells at Anfield.
It took a dominant display from Gerrard, in his favoured central midfield role after being used on the right for much of this season, to clinch Liverpool's first win in three Premiership matches.
Gareth Barry's penalty preserved Aston Villa's unbeaten home record after Malcolm Christie had given Middlesbrough the lead with his first goal for over a year in a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
Striker's joy was short-lived
Christie opened the scoring in 43rd minute with a close range strike after Yakubu had flicked on Julio Arca's blocked shot.
It was Christie's first appearance for three months and his first goal since February 2005 after an injury-plagued three-years at the Riverside Stadium.
But the former Derby striker's joy was short-lived as Villa were level just two minutes later.
Bulgarian midfielder Stilian Petrov was brought down by Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and Gareth Barry stepped up to smash the spot-kick past Schwarzer for his third goal in three homes games.
Martin O'Neill's side move into fourth place, although they can be leap-frogged by Arsenal if the Gunners avoid defeat in Saturday's late match at Bolton.
West Ham midfielder Hayden Mullins gave new chairman Eggert Magnusson the perfect start to his reign with the winner as his side beat Sheffield United 1-0 at Upton Park.
Mullins, who signed a new four-year contract earlier this week, struck in the 36th minute to give West Ham a first win in three matches.
Icelanic businessman Magnusson was present at Upton Park for the first game since he completed his 85 million pounds takeover and saw West ham bounce back from two successive defeats.
Anton Ferdinand flicked on a 36th minute corner and Mullins headed home from close range to leave United with just one win in their last six matches.
Andy Reid's first goal for Charlton salvaged a 1-1 home draw against Everton, but the London club remain bottom of the table.
Republic of Ireland midfielder Reid, who signed from Tottenham in August, struck with a perfectly-placed low drive in the 68th minute after Hermann Hreidarsson's own goal had put Everton in front.
Charlton head coach Les Reed, in charge for the second match since replacing Iain Dowie, could take encouragement from the way his side fought back after Hreidarsson deflected Leon Osman's shot into his own net in the 52nd minute, but they have now won just once in their last 11 league matches.
Kevin Doyle's first half penalty was enough to extend Reading's impressive start to life in the Premiership with a 1-0 win at 10-man Fulham.
Steve Coppell's newly-promoted side won for their third successive match thanks to Doyle's winner after Fulham defender Ian Pearce was sent off.
Pearce was dismissed in the 17th minute after conceding a penalty with a professional foul on Doyle, who picked himself up to convert the spot-kick for his fourth goal in his last five matches.
Table-topping Manchester United face second-placed Chelsea in a crucial clash at Old Trafford on Sunday, while Newcastle host Portsmouth and Tottenham entertain Wigan.
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