Liverpool's Luis Suarez (R) and Daniel Agger (2nd R) and Tottenham's Michael Dawson lunge for the ball as Jordan Henderson, out of frame, scores from a free kick during their English Premier League match at Anfield Stadium Liverpool, England, Sunday. — AP LONDON — Liverpool outclassed Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at Anfield Sunday to surge to the top of the Premier League table and raise hopes of a first English title for 24 years. An eighth successive victory for Brendan Rodgers's team lifted it two points clear of Chelsea with a much better goal difference and four ahead of Manchester City, which has two games in hand. Liverpool will be champions if it wins its six remaining games as City and Chelsea, who both dropped points Saturday, still have to visit Anfield. On a good day for Merseyside and a bad one for London sides, Liverpool's neighbors Everton won 3-1 at bottom club Fulham, taking it further ahead of sixth-placed Tottenham and keeping the pressure on Arsenal for the fourth Champions League place. Liverpool has not won the English title since 1990, two years before the Premier League began. It took only two minutes for the first of many defensive errors by the visitors, when Glen Johnson was allowed to cross from the right and force an own goal by Younes Kaboul. Luis Suarez doubled the lead in the 25th minute with his 29th goal of the season, all in the League. That broke the Liverpool club record for a Premier League campaign, set by Robbie Fowler in 1995-96. Watched by former Liverpool goalscoring heroes Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish and Ian St John, Suarez almost got his 30th goal before half-time, Hugo Lloris just turning his header on to a post. In the second half Brazilian Philippe Coutinho ran from just inside the Spurs half to score the third goal and England midfielder Jordan Henderson's long free kick went straight in for the fourth. Manchester City dropped two points Saturday when it was held 1-1 at Arsenal and Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho declared it was “impossible” for his team to win the title after it suffered an unexpected 1-0 defeat by relegation strugglers Crystal Palace. Lazio stuns Parma Lazio defender Antonio Candreva struck late to secure a 3-2 win over Parma and maintain its Europa League hopes as Fiorentina's Champions League bid was dented in a scoreless draw away to Sampdoria Sunday. Earlier, goals in either half from Mattia Destro and Michel Bastos helped Roma to a cagey 2-0 win away to Serie A struggler Sassuolo to close the gap on leader Juventus to 11 points. Juve is at third-placed Napoli later Sunday when it will be looking to restore its 14-point lead as it strides toward a likely third consecutive scudetto. Elsewhere, 10-man Verona kept in the hunt for Europe's second-tier club competition with a 3-0 home win over Genoa. Playmaker Kaka received a standing ovation from the San Siro crowd after marking his 300th AC Milan appearance with two goals in a 3-0 win over hapless Chievo Verona Saturday. The Brazilian produced a simple finish in the 27th minute and curled in a stunning long-range goal nine minutes after the break. Mario Balotelli had volleyed the opener after four minutes as Milan continued their mini revival. Hamburg drops to 2nd last Borussia Moenchengladbach came from a goal down to beat Hamburger SV 3-1 Sunday and leave the visiting side second from bottom in the Bundesliga. Moenchengladbach reclaimed sixth place while Hamburg is just two points above bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig, and behind 16th-placed Stuttgart on goal difference. Sebastian Proedl's last-minute header earned Werder Bremen a 2-1 win at Hannover later Sunday, lifting his side eight points above the relegation zone. Atletico on top Diego Costa sparked Atletico Madrid's exhilarating 2-1 comeback at Athletic Bilbao Saturday, while Lionel Messi converted a late penalty to keep Barcelona one point behind the Spanish league leader with a contentious 1-0 win at Espanyol. Cristiano Ronaldo scored as well before Gareth Bale netted a brace as Real Madrid routed Rayo Vallecano 5-0 at home. Ronaldo leads the league with 28 goals through 31 games. Diego Costa is next with 25, trailed by Messi with 23. Barcelona host Atletico Tuesday in the Champions League quarterfinals, a preview of their meeting in the last round of the Spanish league season.— Agencies
