LIVERPOOL — Ross Barkley scored a sublime solo goal as Everton beat Queens Park Rangers 3-1 at Goodison Park Monday to subject the travel-weary Londoners to their eighth away defeat in eight Premier League matches this season. Barkley picked up possession in his own half, exchanged passes with Romelu Lukaku before driving at QPR's defense and unleashing an unstoppable left-foot drive into the top corner for his first goal of an injury-plagued season. Kevin Mirallas doubled the lead after 43 minutes with a wickedly-deflected free kick. Steven Naismith headed a third eight minutes after the break before Bobby Zamora notched a late consolation for Rangers. Everton's first league victory since Nov. 22 lifted it above local rival Liverpool into 10th place on 21 points while QPR, without a point away from home this season, remained 18th, four points above bottom club Leicester City. “It was a really important win. In front of goal we were clinical and full of quality,” Martinez said. “There were pieces of individual magic. The way Ross Barkley opens up the defense and hits that quality of strike is outstanding.” Deportivo edges Elche In Spain, a goal by midfielder Luis Farina gave Deportivo La Coruna a 1-0 win against last-place Elche in the Spanish league Monday. The 23-year-old Argentine scored his club's first goal in six matches by curling a long shot into the top far corner in the 22nd minute. Deportivo could have gone two-up after Ivan Neves passed across the goalmouth to Jose Verdu, but the ball stopped dead in the waterlogged pitch inches from the striker in the 47th. Deportivo missed another chance when Jose Rodriguez smashed Luis Correia's pass onto the post with goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton beaten in the 70th. Elche came close to equalizing when Faycal Fajr beat Deportivo's defense only to kick the ball into goalkeeper Fabricio Ramirez's face in the 85th. Deportivo rises from the relegation zone to 16th-place. Inter wins at Chievo In Italy, Roberto Mancini recorded his first league victory back in charge at Inter Milan with a 2-0 win at 10-man Chievo Verona Monday. Mateo Kovacic and Andrea Ranocchia scored for Inter, which had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to thank for several crucial saves. Chievo midfielder Ruben Botta — who is on loan from Inter — was sent off for dissent 18 minutes from time. Inter moved into 11th spot with its first win in six matches, while Chievo, which was undefeated in five, slipped to 17th, a point off the relegation zone. Torino leapfrogged Chievo with a 0-0 draw at Empoli in a relegation battle which the home side dominated. — Agencies
