Liverpool back on top

James Milner converted an 81st-minute spot kick – after two mistakes in a matter of seconds by Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico – to secure a 2-1 win for Liverpool at Craven Cottage, lifting the Reds above Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and two points clear in the title race. In the other Premier League game yesterday, Chelsea lost 2-0 at Everton and missed a chance to move level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal. In a FA Cup quarterfinal tie, Brighton beating Millwall 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match had finished 2-2 after extra time. Bianca Andreescu’s giant-killing run at Indian Wells continued in the final as the teenager upset world No 8 Angelique Kerber to become the first wildcard winner of the prestigious WTA tournament. The 18-year-old Canadian won 6-4 3-6 6-4 to become the youngest champion of a WTA Premier Mandatory event – the four biggest tournaments outside of the grand slams and the season-ending WTA Finals. Andreescu, who was runner-up in Auckland’s ASB Classic at the start of the year, overcame nerves, arm and leg issues and exhaustion in the final set yesterday to earn the first title of her fledgling career. Julian Savea remained on the outer as his French club Toulon slipped to their 11th loss of the season. Toulon lost 21-18 at home to Montpellier to remain 10th on the Top 14 table. Savea, who is on a reported annual salary of $1.65 million, hasn’t featured for a month since he drew the anger of club owner Mourad Boudjellal for his poor form. He had been given a ray of hope when coach Patrice Collazo included him in an expanded 27-man squad for the Montpellier match but he was one of four players dropped, with Daniel Ikpefan again taking his place on the left wing.