No stopping Chelsea as Birmingham hold Man Utd (Reuters) Updated: 2005-12-29 11:10
They were pegged back for a draw by a side battling relegation after a late
equaliser by Walter Pandiani which left them on 41 points, compared to Chelsea's
52, from 19 games.
"They've worked really hard for their point and we're disappointed to have
given leads away twice in the game - our defending on the last one wasn't good
enough," Ferguson told Sky Sports News.
"Overall, it was a fair result."
Liverpool stay third after a ninth league win in a row but closed in on
United with 37 points from 17 games, three points ahead of Spurs and Wigan.
GERRARD STRIKES
Liverpool captain Steve Gerrard did the damage, setting up their first goal
for Peter Crouch and scoring the second. James Beattie pulled one back for
Everton but a solo effort by Liverpool's French striker Djibril Cisse sealed the
win.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was not fully satisfied with their
performance.
"I am very happy, but at times in the first half Everton caused us problems
in the air and we were not winning second balls," he told the club's website.
"We can play a lot better and have played better this season."
Everton had Phil Neville dismissed in the 68th minute and Spanish midfielder
Mikel Arteta sent off in stoppage time.
Their only consolation was that Beattie's goal denied Liverpool a club record
of nine league matches without conceding.
Tottenham coach Martin Jol, a former West Brom player, made an unhappy return
to his old club as Spurs went down to two goals from Nigerian striker Nwankwo
Kanu.
Kanu's old club, Arsenal, moved up to sixth place on 32 points from 18 games
with their thumping win at Highbury.
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