English Premier League Reports

Brief reports of English Premier League matches on Saturday:

ARSENAL 0 WEST HAM UNITED 1

Arsenal's unbeaten record at their Emirates Stadium was ended by a West Ham side who notched a third consecutive victory in their fight to beat the drop.

The Gunners dominated throughout but were stunned on the stroke of halftime when Bobby Zamora latched on to a Lucas Neill pass to lift West Ham into the lead.

West Ham keeper Robert Green made a succession of superb saves while Cesc Fabregas rocked the crossbar with a shot and Gilberto also hit the post.

BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 ASTON VILLA 2

Blackburn lost their third successive league game since reaching the FA Cup semi-finals despite going in front with Benni McCarthy's 13th goal of the season from the spot.

Czech Patrik Berger levelled for Villa nine minutes later and Villa had the chance to take the lead early in the second half but Gareth Barry's penalty was saved by Brad Friedel.

Berger set up Gabriel Agbonlahor to seal the points for Villa 18 minutes from time to ease any relegation fears.

CHELSEA 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0

Both sides looked jaded after their midweek exertions in the Champions League and UEFA Cup but Chelsea sneaked the points with Ricardo Carvalho's low 53rd-minute shot.

Champions Chelsea have now won eight league games in a row without conceding as they keep on the tails of leaders Manchester United.

Tottenham's five-game winning league run was snapped, although Egyptian striker Mido and Dimitar Berbatov, on as a late substitute, both forced Chelsea keeper Petr Cech into sharp saves with headers.

MIDDLESBROUGH 4 WATFORD 1

Middlesbrough more or less ended their relegation worries as they left Watford facing almost certain relegation.

Mark Viduka put Boro in front after six minutes only for Watford to level with a Damien Francis volley. Watford did not enjoy parity for long, however, as Chris Riggott restored the home side's lead almost immediately.

Viduka smashed in his second of the game after 75 minutes and then set up Fabio Rochemback for Boro's fourth.

PORTSMOUTH 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

Portsmouth's victory threw the title race wide open. Matthew Taylor's first half goal and an own goal by Rio Ferdinand ended a run of seven successive league victories for United who managed a late consolation through John O'Shea.

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James capped a series of fine saves to deny United's Alan Smith as the leaders poured forward in the final minutes in search on an equaliser.

READING 1 LIVERPOOL 2

Liverpool, who virtually booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday, established a five-point lead over Arsenal in the battle for third place when Dutchman Dirk Kuyt headed the winner three minutes from time.

Brynjar Gunnarsson had got Reading back on level terms just after halftime after Spaniard Alvaro Arbeloa had put Liverpool in front early on with his first goal for the club.

Reading are now without a win in seven matches.

SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 2

Sheffield United are now deep in the relegation mire after their third straight league defeat.

They looked to be heading for a point that would have taken them back above Charlton Athletic after substitute Christian Nada had equalised Obafemi Martins' opener for Newcastle United.

However Steven Taylor powered in a late header to win it for the visitors.

WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 BOLTON WANDERERS 3

Relegation-threatened Wigan took a deserved lead when former England striker Emile Heskey bundled in a Paul Scharner cross just past the half hour mark.

Bolton levelled close to halftime when Nicolas Anelka got the final touch in a goalmouth scramble.

Iranian Andranik Teymourian scored twice in the second half to boost fifth-placed Bolton's European ambitions.

Played Friday:

EVERTON 4 FULHAM 1

Everton went behind when Carlos Bocanegra headed home for Fulham in the 22nd minute. But goals from Lee Carsley, Alan Stubbs, James Vaughan and substitute Victor Anichebe gave the home side a victory that lifted them into the top six.

MANCHESTER CITY 0 CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0

Charlton moved out of the bottom three relegation zone for the first time since September. City had the best of the chances but Charlton, unbeaten in their last five games, battled on for a valuable point.