LIVERPOOL, Dec 10: Fernando Morientes ensured Liverpool will head off to the World Club Championship in Japan in buoyant mood after the Spain striker’s double secured a convincing victory against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

The European Champions League holders are rapidly emerging as genuine challengers to leaders Chelsea and moved into second place in the Premiership after Morientes eventually ended the visitors’ dogged resistance with two goals in the space of five minutes late on in the second-half.

This win, against a Boro side that finished the match with 10 men, saw Liverpool move nine points behind Chelsea.

But Manchester United can regain runners-up spot when they play Liverpool’s city rivals Everton on Sunday.

As ever, Liverpool’s victory was built on the foundation of yet another resolute defensive display as they equalled the club record of ten successive clean sheets set in 1986/7.

And Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insisted the Reds could yet challenge champions Chelsea, against whom they drew 0-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Spanish striker had managed just one league goal prior to this display before netting in the 72nd and 77th minutes.

A full length dive denied Gerrard’s rasping drive as early as the seventh minute and Schwarzer matched that effort shortly afterwards to keep out a Morientes header.

But Liverpool had only themselves to blame for reaching the half-time interval still on level terms after Momo Sissoko fluffed a gilt-edged opportunity when he headed straight at Schwarzer from Crouch’s knock-down.

That was to prove the visitors one and only chance of note and Liverpool were finally ahead when Gerrard dummied substitute Luis Garcia’s cross and Morientes tucked the loose the ball home with ease.

And the striker completed his most successful afternoon yet at Anfield when he collected Middlesbrough defender Franck Queudrue’s misdirected header and lobbed expertly over the advancing Schwarzer.

Results

Birmingham 1 Fulham 0

Blackburn 3 West Ham 2

Bolton 1 Aston Villa 1

Charlton 2 Sunderland 0

Chelsea 1 Wigan 0

Liverpool Middlesbrough 0

W. Bromwich Albion 2 Manchester City 0

—Agencies