LONDON, Jan 3: Liverpool’s Premier League title aspirations all but vanished on Wednesday with a 1-1 home draw against relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic which left them languishing 12 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Rafael Benitez’s side were booed off the field at Anfield after Wigan defender Titus Bramble fired a late equaliser to cancel out a classy opener from Fernando Torres.

Liverpool have now dropped out of the Premier League’s top four, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Manchester City rising above them after a 2-0 victory at troubled Newcastle United.

Brazilian Elano opened the scoring for City shortly before the interval and not even the second-half introduction of Michael Owen could inspire the Magpies as City doubled their lead through Fernandes Gelson.

City are fourth with 39 points, one more than Liverpool who have played a game fewer. Arsenal, who beat West Ham United 2-0 on Tuesday, are top with 50 points, two ahead of champions Manchester United.

Wigan’s surprise draw lifts them out of the bottom three where they are replaced by Sunderland who were beaten 1-0 at Blackburn Rovers. Dwight Yorke was sent off for Sunderland.

Bolton Wanderers boosted their survival chances after a last-minute 1-0 defeat of bottom club Derby County who are 10 points adrift of safety.

Newcastle were also booed off at St James’ Park after a third consecutive defeat over the holiday fixtures left them marooned in mid-table and facing a tricky FA Cup tie away at second division Stoke City on Sunday.

Stelios Giannakopolous struck a stoppage time winner for Bolton against luckless Derby to lift them three points above the drop zone.

Results:

Played on Wednesday:

Blackburn Rovers 1 Sunderland 0

Bolton Wanderers 1 Derby County 0

Liverpool 1 Wigan Athletic 1

Newcastle United 0 Manchester City 2

Played on Tuesday:

Arsenal 2 West Ham United 0

Aston Villa 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Fulham 1 Chelsea 2

Manchester United 1 Birmingham City 0

Middlesbrough 0 Everton 2

Reading 0 Portsmouth 2—Reuters