4 NOVEMBER 2001

Liverpool (2) 3 (Owen 32, 51, Riise 39)
Man United (0) 1 (Beckham 50)

Liverpool moved temporarily into top position as a result of this
morning victory over the current Champions, who frankly looked
anything but on this display. Michael Owen put the hosts ahead when
Emile Heskey flicked on Vladimir Smicer's pass to send the striker
away to finish well from the edge of the area. Seven minutes later,
a free kick to the right of the `D` was touched to John Arne Riise
who crashed home via the bar and post, the sheer power beating
Barthez easily. Early in the second half, Denis Irwin's cross was
miscontrolled by Riise and David Beckham fired into the bottom
corner at the second attempt, however within two minutes, Barthez
failed to collect a long throw under pressure from Heskey and the
ball fell to Owen who nodded into an empty net.


Leeds United (0) 2 (Harte 61, Kewell 82)
Spurs (0) 1 (Poyet 52)

Leeds regained top spot from Aston Villa, via a 30 minute lead for
Liverpool, after coming from behind to beat Spurs. The visitors took
the lead when Seth Johnson lost possession to Gus Poyet, the
Uruguayian going on to find the top corner with a fine shot after
being found by Christian Ziege. Leeds needed a slice of luck to
equalise when Ian Harte's 25 yard effort was touched onto the post
by keeper Neil Sullivan who could do nothing as it hit him in the
back and went in. The winner was down to bad defending as Sullivan
and Chris Perry both hesitated in collecting a back header by team
mate Dean Richards, allowing Harry Kewell to nip in and prod home
the decisive goal.


Arsenal (1) 2 (Henry 6, (pen) 60)
Charlton (2) 4 (Brown 35, Wright (og) 42, Jensen 49, Euell 53)

One of those freak results which will have Arsenal fans wondering
just what went wrong. The Gunners had enough chances to have been
four or five up by the half hour mark, but only Thierry Henry's
cross shot from Robert Pires' through ball registered on the
scoresheet. Remarkably, and totally against the run of play,
Charlton turned it around in 18 dramatic minutes either side of half
time. Firstly, Steve Brown headed home a Paul Konchesky cross and
then minutes before the break, Konchesky again caused problems with
a ball into the middle and keeper Richard Wright decided to punch it
into the air and ultimately into his own net under pressure from
Jason Euell. Early in the second half, Vieira was caught in
possession, allowing Claus Jensen to score with a superb chip from
the right edge of the area, the ball going in off the far post.
Jensen then turned provider to send Euell clear and the former
Wimbledon star made no mistake. Henry pulled one back from the
penalty spot after being fouled by Mark Fish, although the ex-Bolton
man appeared to get a touch on the ball, however under immense
pressure, the visitors held on for all three points.


Chelsea (1) 2 (Zola 36, Dalla Bonna 90)
Ipswich (0) 1 (Stewart (pen) 83)

Chelsea left it late to beat Ipswich, whose poor domestic start to
the season shows no sign of improving. Gianfranco Zola opened the
scoring, firing home after Frank Lampard had been tackled by Titus
Bramble, although Ipswich were annoyed at an apparent foul by John
Terry on Richard Naylor in the build up. With time running out,
Ipswich salvaged a lifeline when Marcus Stewart converted a penalty
after he'd been fouled by Mario Melchiot. However in stoppage time,
Sam Dalla Bonna popped up with a dramatic winner, crashing home in
spectacular style from long range.


3 NOVEMBER 2001

Bolton (1) 2 (Frandsen 11, Ricketts 90)
Everton (1) 2 (Stubbs 45, Gascoigne 57)
RED CARD: Diawara (Bolton) 88

Honours even at the Reebok in the most dramatic style possible as
Bolton scored an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Per Frandsen gave the hosts the lead when he caught Everton cold to
fire home a quickly taken free kick. On the stroke of half time, the
visitors levelled matters when Alan Stubbs scorched home a superb
free kick from 25 yards out. Paul Gascoigne scored his first Everton
goal to put his side ahead, finding the corner from the edge of the
box after good work by Gary Naysmith, however after Diawara had been
sent off for a second bookable offence - a tackle on David
Unsworth - ten man Bolton grabbed a point when Michael Ricketts
scored from close range, flicking home from practically on the line
following a header by Gudni Bergsson.


Leicester (0) 1 (Akinbiyi 61)
Sunderland (0) 0

Leicester move out of the bottom three as Ade Akinbiyi finally found
where the net is. The only goal came after an Andy Impey cross was
headed down for Matt Elliott. His shot across goal found Akinbiyi
who miskicked only to find the corner with the rebound. Sunderland
missed a number of good chances with Kevin Phillips and Julio Arca
the main culprits.


Middlesbrough (0) 5 (Nemeth 48, Marinelli 55, 83, Boksic 60, Mustoe
73)
Derby (0) 1 (Ravanelli 89)

Derby go bottom after a second half thrashing at the Riverside.
After a goalless first half, Szilard Nemeth broke the deadlock early
in the second half, tapping home after Carlos Marinelli's shot was
half saved by Poom. Within seven minutes, Marinelli doubled the lead
with a superb far post volley and it wasn't long before Alen Boksic
added a third, delightfully chipping home off the post. Robbie
Mustoe's deflected shot found the net via the post to make it four
before Marinelli's right wing shot deceived Mart Poom and crept in
at the near post. Former Boro striker Fabrizio Ravanelli scored a
late consolation with a curling free kick, but it was a return to
forget for the Italian.


Newcastle (1) 3 (Bellamy 37, 82, Shearer 50)
Aston Villa (0) 0

Villa remain top but are likely to be replaced by any one (or more)
of four clubs who play tomorrow after losing 3-0 at Newcastle who
move into third place. Craig Bellamy scored at the end of each half,
firstly firing home a brilliant half volley after Robbie Elliott's
lovely chipped ball and then late on, slotting between Schmeichel's
legs having been sent clear by Rob Lee. Between the Welshman's two
goals, Alan Shearer popped up with a far post volley which found the
opposite top corner following Lee's cross.


Southampton (1) 1 (Pahars 36)
Blackburn (1) 2 (Tugay 45, Hignett 89)

Southampton are still without a win at their new stadium and were
denied even a point thanks to a late winner from Craig Hignett.
Marion Pahars put Saints ahead, drilling home after James Beattie
had headed on for him, however within ten minutes, Tugay fired home
a sensational long range equaliser into the top corner. As the game
looked to be heading for a draw, Hignett was sent clear and prodded
the ball through the legs of Paul Jones to win the game - and the
points - for Rovers.


West Ham (0) 0
Fulham (1) 2 (Legwinski 45, Malbranque 66)

Fulham won the London derby to end West Ham's three match winning
run. Sylvain Legwinski opened the scoring on the stroke of half
time, heading home whilst unmarked from a John Collins corner. The
points were secured midway through the second half when Steed
Malbranque scored his third goal in two games, firing home via the
hand of Hislop as Fulham broke away quickly after West Ham had felt
that Di Canio had been fouled.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK
http://www.soccerage.com
gary@soccerage.com
garydowden@blueyonder.co.uk