LONDON, Aug 29: Striker Kevin Davies scored late in the first half to give Bolton Wanderers a 1-0 home win over Liverpool that lifted them into third place in the Premier League on Sunday.
In a quick counter-attack in the 38th minute, Henrik Pedersen crossed low from the left. The ball whizzed between Bolton's Greek Euro 2004 winner Stelios Giannakopoulos and goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, who failed to cut it out, in the six-yard box to Davies beyond the far post, who shot right-footed into the net.
Bolton have nine points from four matches, three less than leaders Arsenal, who won 4-1 at Norwich City on Saturday, and Chelsea, 2-1 winners at home to Southampton. Liverpool, going down to their second successive defeat after losing to Graz AK of Austria in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier in midweek, remain equal 10th on four points after three matches.
Liverpool's Spanish debutant Luis Garcia steered what would have been an equaliser past Dudek from a chip over the defence, but a goal was ruled out in an offside decision that looked dubious in television replays.
Arsenal, meanwhile, extended their record unbeaten run with a rousing 4-1 win at Norwich City. The champions are top of the table and unbeaten in a record 44 league games, while Chelsea's fourth win from four was their best start to a top-flight season and left them second only on goal difference.
Arsenal were good value for their win at Carrow Road after a flying start against the Premier League newcomers. Goals from Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes and France's Thierry Henry and Robert Pires put Arsenal a 3-0 up at halftime, though they were lucky not to have defender Lauren dismissed after he bundled striker Darren Huckerby to the floor on the break.
Norwich replied in the 50th minute, when Huckerby converted a penalty after being tripped by defender Justin Hoyte, but Arsenal were largely in cruise control and completed the scoring through substitute Dennis Bergkamp in stoppage time.
RESULTS:
On Sunday:
Bolton Wanderers 1 Liverpool 0
On Saturday:
Aston Villa 4 Newcastle United 2
Blackburn Rovers 1 Manchester United 1
Chelsea 2 Southampton 1
Everton 2 West Bromwich Albion 1
Manchester City 4 Charlton Athletic 0
Middlesbrough 2 Crystal Palace 1
Norwich City 1 Arsenal 4
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Birmingham City 0
Playing on Monday: Manchester United v Everton; Portsmouth v Fulham. -Reuters
