December 24, 2001	Monday	Shawwal 8, 1422

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LIVERPOOL (England), Dec 23: Arsenal overcame the first-half sending-off of Giovanni van Bronckhorst to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in another premier league thriller Sunday.

Arsenal’s gritty victory takes them back into second place on 33 points — three behind Newcastle United and above Liverpool on goal difference.

The Gunners’ first win at the ground for nine years came courtesy of a Thierry Henry penalty on the stroke of halftime and a Freddie Ljungberg shot early in the second half.

After Jari Litmanen pulled one back in the 55th minute it was Arsenal’s hard work and resolute defending that secured the points.

The win stretched Arsenal’s remarkable unbeaten away league record this season to 10 games and brought some Christmas cheer to Highbury following Tuesday’s morale-sapping 3-1 home defeat by Newcastle.

Midfielder Van Bronckhorst was sent off in the 36th minute for a second yellow card.

Meanwhile, Chelsea recovered from the loss of an early goal to overpower Bolton Wanderers 5-1 and complete their first back-to-back victories of the season.

Chelsea, who beat Liverpool 4-0 last weekend, were shocked by 19-year-old midfielder Kevin Nolan’s opener for Bolton after just two minutes.

But the home side’s strike partnership of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen shifted the balance of the Stamford Bridge contest.

Hasselbaink laid on the equaliser for Gudjohnsen after 42 minutes, before the Iceland international turned provider for the Dutchman three minutes into first half injury time.

Boudewijn Zenden scored with an improvised lob from 20 metres after 56 minutes, before an own goal from defender Colin Hendry and Frank Lampard’s first league goal for Chelsea put the gloss on their performance.

On Saturday, Nolberto Solano grabbed a dramatic last-minute winner to give Newcastle United a 4-3 victory at Leeds United.

Lee Bowyer scored on his return to action to cancel out Craig Bellamy’s 38th-minute strike before superb goals by Mark Viduka and Ian Harte put Leeds 3-1 ahead and on course to maintain their unbeaten home record this season.

But Robbie Elliott’s header, Alan Shearer’s penalty and Solano’s late solo effort completed a dream comeback for Bobby Robson’s team, who also came from behind to win 3-1 at Arsenal in midweek.

Manchester United’s recovery continued apace as a Ruud van Nistelrooy hat-trick, including one strike 30 seconds into the match, and a goal each for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Roy Keane and Phil Neville demolished Southampton 6-1 at Old Trafford.

Bottom club Ipswich Town collected only their second win of the season, 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur, who had Teddy Sheringham sent off early in the second half.

Substitute Alun Armstrong bagged three precious points for Ipswich as they came from a goal down to defeat Spurs 2-1.

Spurs, who had hit 10 goals in their previous two games, took a 12th-minute lead through Simon Davies, his third goal in as many matches.

Finidi George levelled five minutes before half time and the home side were reduced to 10 men on 54 minutes when Sheringham clashed with Town defender John McGreal and was sent off.

In other games, Blackburn won 2-0 at Charlton, Claudio Reyna scored on his home debut to give Sunderland a 1-0 victory over Everton, and struggling Derby beat midlands rivals Aston Villa 3-1. Leicester and West Ham drew 1-1 at Filbert Street.

English premier league results:

On Sunday:

Chelsea 5 Bolton Wanderers 1

Liverpool 1 Arsenal 2

Played on Saturday:

Charlton Athletic 0 Blackburn Rovers 2

Derby County 3 Aston Villa 1

Leeds United 3 Newcastle United 4

Leicester City 1 West Ham United 1

Manchester United 6 Southampton 1

Middlesbrough v Fulham postponed

Sunderland 1 Everton 0

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Ipswich Town 2

—Reuters