Liverpool go top, Toffees stay in contention for CL

LIVERPOOL: Steven Gerrard scored two penalties as Liverpool went back to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win at West Ham United to complete a Merseyside win-double over London clubs on Sunday.

Earlier Everton crushed a woeful Arsenal side 3-0 at Goodison Park to boost their chances of a top four finish and a possible place in next season’s Champions League for the first time in nine seasons.

The two vitally important games had a big bearing on the top of the table with Liverpool top with 74 points from 33 matches, two ahead of Chelsea who have also played 33.

Manchester City, who play Liverpool next week, have 70 points and two matches in hand, followed by Arsenal on 64 from 33 and Everton 63 from 32. MOURINHO CRIES ‘FAKE’

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho turned his ire on Premier Leaque officials by slamming a “fake” table after his side’s 3-0 win at home to Stoke on Saturday.

Mourinho believes it is wrong that the clubs vying for the title won’t have played the same number of games until the final week of the season.

“The situation is the same. The table is again fake,” Mourinho said. “The table is again with lots of matches in hand. You look to the top part of the table and, some teams, they have more matches than others.

“In the top of the league we cannot say we need ‘X’ points to be champions. This, in the best league in the world, I don’t think is the best image we are giving and it’s not the best situation.”

LONDON:

REAL, BARCA WIN

Gareth Bale deputised ably for the injured Cristiano Ronaldo with a wonder strike from 35 yards as Real Madrid kept up the pressure on Atletico Madrid and Barcelona with a 4-0 win away to Real Sociedad. Atletico stay top, three points clear of third-placed Real, whilst Barca remain in second after overcoming Real Betis 3-1 thanks to two goals from Lionel Messi on Saturday.

MADRID: