Liverpool top for second time

Press, 9 March 1987, Page 24

Liverpool top for second time

NZPA-Reuter Landon Liverpool, which led the English first division for a brief seven-day spell in January, went top. for only the second time this season yesterday when it took its revenge on the F.A. Cup conquerer, Luton. A 2-0 victory at Anfield, courtesy of a Jan Molby penalty and an own-goal by the Luton defender, Mai Donaghy, lifted Liverpool three points ahead of its fellow citizens, Everton. But Liverpool's grip on first place could be even shorter this time, however, because Everton will go above it again on goal difference if it wins at Watford today. In third-place was Arsenal, chasing a unique trophy treble. It suffered an understandable reaction to its fourhour League Cup semi-final victory over Tottenham last week at London neighbours’, Chelsea, where it lost, 0-1.

Chelsea had eight firstteam squad members unavailable through injury, illness and suspension, and was forced to recall the tiny striker, Colin West, who had

been on loan with Scottish first division club Partick Thistle.

West, aged 19, and only 1.65 m tall, made an immediate impact on his debut by scoring the winner after five minutes when he seized on a rare error by David O’Leary and tucked a firm shot neatly past the Arsenal goalkeeper, John Lukic.

F.A. Cup quarter-finalist, Arsenal, now four points adrift with a match in hand, seldom threatened the Chelsea goal, though the midfielder, David Rocastle, who scored the extra time winner in the League Cup semi-final replay with Tottenham, was unfortunate to hit the post shortly before halftime. . While Arsenal is beginning to show the first signs of fatigue after an arduous season, Liverpool, its League Cup final opponent on April 5, appears to be hitting top form at exactly the right time. With Molby, Steve McMahon, and Craig Johnston taking a firm grip on midfield, Liverpool dominated proceedings from the

start and went in front after 18 minutes when the Luton defender, Rob Johnson, handled the ball during a frantic goalmouth melee. Molby converted the resultant penalty with typical nonchalance and Liverpool increased its advantage five minutes from half-time when Donaghy had the misfortune to turn the ball past his own goalkeeper during another Liverpool surge. Glasgow Rangers remained top of the Scottish premier league on goal difference, in spite of running up against unexpectedly stiff resistance at lowly Falkirk, where it won, 2-1, thanks to two firsthalf goals by its striker, Ally McCoist. Glasgow Celtic maintained its challenge in second place by beating Motherwell, 3-1, at home. The Scotland World Cup midfielder, Roy Aitken, put Celtic ahead and further goals by Brian McClair and Tony Shepherd sealed Motherwell’s fate. In third place was Dundee United, which beat Barcelona in the U.E.F.A. Cup in midweek. It slipped three points behind Rangers but with a match in hand when it was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Clydebank. ENGLISH LEAGUE Division one.— Charlton 2, West Ham 1; Chelsea 1, Arsenal 0; Coventry 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0; Liverpool 2, Luton 0; Manchester United 2, Manchester City 0; Newcastle 2, Aston Villa 1; Norwich 0, Wimbledon 0; Nottingham Forest 2, Oxford 0; Southampton 4, Leicester 0;

Tottenham 1, Queen’s Park Rangers 0. Division two. — Birmingham v. Sunderland postponed; Bradford 2, Blackburn 0; Brighton 0, Derby 1; Hull 0, Huddersfield 0; Leeds 2, Grimsby 0; Plymouth 1, Millwall 0; Sheffield United 1, Barnsley 0; Shrewsbury v. Crystal Palace, postponed; Stoke v. Ipswich, postponed; West Bromwich v. Portsmouth, postponed; Oldham 4, Reading 0. Division three. — Blackpool 1, Mansfield 2; Brentford 0, Walsall 1; Bristol Rovers v. Carlisle, postponed; Bury 2, Fulham 1; Chester 0, Bolton 0; Doncaster 1, Notts County 2; Gillingham 0, Port Vale 0; Middlesbrough 1, Bristol City 0; Rotherham 0, York 0; Swindon v. Darlington, postponed; Wigan 1, Bournemouth 1. Division four.— Burnley 0, Exeter 0; Cambridge 1, Wrexham 0; Halifax 0, Crewe 3; Hartlepool 1, Aidershot 1; Hereford v. Northampton, postponed; Orient 3, Wolverhampton 1; Preston v. Rochdale, postponed; Scunthorpe 1, Cardiff 3. SCOTTISH LEAGUE Premier division.— Celtic 3, Motherwell 1; Dundee United 1, Clydebank 1; Falkirk 1, Rangers 2; Hamilton 0, Hearts 1; Hibernian 1, Aberdeen 1; St Mirren 0, Dundee 1.

Division one.— Brechin 0, Airdrieonians 2; Dunfermline 1, Dumbarton 0; East Fife 3, Montrose 1; Morton v. Kilmarnock, postponed; Partick 2, Forfar 1; Queen of the South v. Clyde, postponed.

Division two.— Albion 0,Arbroath 1; Ayr 1, Meadowbank 3; Berwick 0, East Stirling 1; Cowdenbeath 2, Raith 2; St Johnstone 1, Alloa 3; Stenhousemuir 0, Stranraer 0; Stirling 1, Queen’s Park 0.