Liverpool holds precarious lead

Press, 29 December 1980, Page 17

Liverpool holds precarious lead

NZPA-Reuter London Liverpool struggled to their second goal-less draw in 24 hours to retain their precarious hold on the English first division soccer leadership on Saturday. After their uninspired performance at Manchester United on Friday, they found tha visiting Leeds’ defence unpenetrable and failed to find the net. for the second game in succe~ ,1 But they remained at the top when their closest challengers, Aston Villa and Ipswich, managed just one point apiece away from home. Villa drew 2-2 at Europe, n champions Nottingham Fores' while a late penalty from John Wark earned Ipswich a 1-1 draw at Uv”rpool and Villa are both tied on 34 points ,'rom > ' ’1 and although their goal difference is identical the , - . champions keep top place because they have scored more “ipswlch are just behind but have the cushion of two games in hand over their two rivals. Eolish Lea«ua ; Division one.— Arsenal I- Ipswich 1: isjmingham 3. Sunderland 2; Brighton 3, Crystal Palace 2, Liverpool 0, Leeds 0; Manchester City 4, Wolverhampton 0-, Middlesbrough 1, Everton 0; Norwich Z, Tottenham 2; Nottingham Forest; 2, Aston Villa 2: Southampton 4,1 Leicester 0; Stoke 2, Coventry 2: West Bromwich 3, Manchester; United 1; 1 ■ ’ ■•''■' Division two.— Bolton 1, Blackburn 2; Bristol Rovers 2. Luton 4; Cambridge v. Sheffield.

Wednesday postponed; Cardiff 3. Swansea 3; Chelsea 0, Bristol Citv 0; Newcastle 0, Derby 2, Oldham 1, Grimsby 2; Preston 2, Notts County 2; Shrewsbury I, Wrexham 2; Watford 1, Q>je' r « Park Ranger* 1; West- Hant 2, Orient 1. ’ _ , < ' . Division three.— Barns.ep 3, Walsall 0; Burnley 4, Blackpool 1; Charlton 1, Fulham 1; Chester 2, Chesterfield 1; Colchester 2, Gillingham 1; Exeter 2, Newport 2. Huddersfield 5, Hull 0; MUlwall 0, Portsmouth 0; Reading 0. Oxford I; Rotherham 3. Carlisle 0; Sheffield United 0, Brentford 0; Swindon 3, Plymouth 0. Division four.— Crewe 1, Peterborough 0; Doncaster .1, Trarrmere 0; Halifax 1, Darlington 2; Hartlepool 2, Bradiord z; Hereford 0. Torquay 1; Lincoln 1, Mansfield 1; Northampton 5, Port Vale 1; Scunthorpe 2, Bury 2; Southend 3, Aidershot 0; Stock’port 0. Wigan 1; Wimbledon 2, .Bournemouth 0; York 1, Rochdale 2. > ;■■ ■ Scottish League

Premier' division- — Aberdeen 4, Celtic 1; Dundee United 4, Hearts 1; Morton 2, Partick 0; Airdrieonians v. Kilmarnock, and Rangers v. St Mirren both postponed (grounds unfit). Division one.— Ayr 1, Dundee 0; Clydebank v, Raith, Dunfermline v.i Berwick, and . Falkirk v. Motherwell all postponed (grounds unfit). Hamilton 1, East Stirling 0; Hibernian 3, Stirling 0; St Johnstone 2, Dumbarton 6. M i- Division two.— Arbroath &1; Queen of the Scu'.h Brechin 3, Clyde 1; East Fife 0, Forfar 6; I Meadowbank O, Stranraer 1; Cowdenbeath v. Alloa, Queens Park iv. Montrose, and Stenhousenwtr iv. Albion aHpo^ponetL;