Liverpool end Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten home record

Referee Webb calls skippers Gerrard and Terry to calm their players.

Xabi Alonso's solitary first-half goal ended Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten home league record and put Liverpool three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Alonso struck in the ninth minute when his 20-yard shot deflected off Jose Bosingwa and left Petr Cech wrong-footed.

It was Chelsea's first defeat under new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, but Liverpool were always in charge of a pulsating contest at Stamford Bridge and look real title contenders on this form.

Chelsea had not been beaten at home since Arsenal's 2-1 success in February 2004 but Liverpool deserved their triumph with an impressive display.

Chelsea began the brighter of the two sides and their initial thrusts almost resulted in an opening goal.

Nicolas Anelka dribbled his way into the penalty area in the third minute but was tackled before he could test Jose Reina.

The ball fell to Deco but the Chelsea midfielder's shot was deflected to safety.

Liverpool went ahead in the ninth minute with their first attack of the game.

Chelsea failed to deal with a thrown-in when John Terry could only half-clear Dirk Kuyt's clever back-header.

The ball fell to Alonso on the edge of the penalty area and his shot deflected off Chelsea right-back Bosingwa into the net.

Liverpool were now in commanding form and dominating the game.

In the 17th minute, Albert Riera beat Bosingwa on the left flank but fired his shot into the side netting.

Chelsea, hoping to stretch their unbeaten home league sequence to 87 games, struggled to get back into the game.

Bosingwa tried to run at the Liverpool defence in the 21st minute but was chopped down crudely by Riera who received a booking from referee Howard Webb as a result.

Liverpool continued to look dangerous and in the 24th minute they almost increased their lead when Cech was forced to tip a glorious volley from Steven Gerrard over the bar.

Chelsea began to find some consistency as the first half wore on but they were struggling to produce a telling final ball into the penalty area.

Bosingwa sent over a number of crosses from the right flank but Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher were inspired at the heart of the visitors' defence.

In the 36th minute Deco was given time and space to run at the Liverpool defence but his left-foot drive from 18 yards was wide of Jose Reina's right-hand upright.

In the 38th minute Gerrard looked to be heading for an early bath for a foul on Bosingwa.

However, referee Webb elected to show the England midfielder a yellow card for his challenge.

Liverpool's speed on the counter-attack almost opened up Chelsea again in the 43rd minute but, despite some confusion in the home defence, John Mikel Obi managed to clear their lines.

Chelsea began the second half in a much brighter fashion and it required an interception from Carragher to prevent a cross from Florent Malouda reaching its destination in the six-yard box.

In the 53rd minute Malouda was booked for checking a fine run by Alvaro Arbeloa.

Kuyt then tried his luck from 20 yards but his effort was wide of the target.

It was the catalyst for a Chelsea to make a double substitution with Malouda and Kalou replaced by Juliano Belletti and Franco Di Santo.

It was another indication of Chelsea's growing frustration and it prompted Liverpool to replace Robbie Keane with Ryan Babel.

The Reds were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out in the 60th minute when Belletti kicked Riera in the face.

Chelsea then had a massive escape when Alonso's effort rebounded off the foot of the post for Ricardo Carvalho to clear.

Babel was brought down by Cole as he tried to collect the ball but referee Webb decided to book Javier Mascherano for attempting to persuade the official to dismiss the left-back.

Cole squandered a great chance to level the scores in the 73rd minute when Di Santo nodded Lampard's cross into his path.

But the defender screwed his effort wide of the post from eight yards. Moments later Carragher rescued Liverpool when he deflected Deco's effort for a corner.

At the opposite end, a 25-yard drive from Babel was only just wide of the target.

end

Harry more than happy

Boton boss Gary Megson and new Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp prowl the side lines at the Lane.

Harry Redknapp took less than 24 hours to deliver what Tottenham wanted all season - a victory, 2-0 over Bolton, to kick-start their Barclays Premier League campaign.

• Harry has full control

Roman Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent grabbed the goals against Bolton at White Hart Lane but all eyes were on Redknapp after his appointment to succeed Juande Ramos as Spurs boss.

They are still bottom of the table but have made up ground with other strugglers and crucially have a morale-boosting first league win of the season, at the ninth attempt.

Bolton, who had Gavin McCann sent off, gave Spurs nervous moments but there is enough for Redknapp to work with when he gets to work this week, with key contributions coming from players who struggled under Ramos.

Ramos' hasty departure came too quick for the club to change the matchday programme, so fans were given a chance to read the Spaniard's final notes.

"If you believed everything that was being speculated on then your perception of the club would be far removed from the reality,'' he wrote.

The reality was Ramos heading back to Spain and Redknapp in the dressing room and dugout, even though reserve-team coach Clive Allen picked the team.

Redknapp was unveiled to the Spurs fans before kick-off - something not afforded to Ramos due to the embarrassing manner of Martin Jol's departure a year ago.

The encouraging sign for Redknapp was skipper Ledley King being available, four days after playing in the defeat to Udinese - it was the first time he had been ready for games in such quick succession for 10 months.

As expected of a team with a new manager, there was an extra zip to the hosts, something missing so far this season.

Jamie O'Hara had an early shot from long distance deflected over, then from the resulting corner it took a brave header from Andy O'Brien to prevent Pavlyuchenko from tapping in.

Luka Modric has struggled to make an impact since his £16.5million signing in the summer, but he was given a free role behind the striker and resembled a new player.

Like Modric, Pavlyuchenko has struggled since an impressive Euro 2008, and the Russian desperately needed the 18th-minute opener to bring his belief back.

David Bentley, back in the team after being dropped for Ramos' final game following an outspoken assessment on Spurs' start to the season, set it up when he picked the ball up on the right flank.

After exchanging passes with Alan Hutton, the early cross came and was met with a downward header from Pavlyuchenko 12 yards out, with the finish going in off the post.

"Harry Redknapp's white and blue army,'' sang the Spurs fans after watching two players who struggled under Ramos combine for the strike.

Confidence was returning to Spurs but their lapses in concentration still remained, and were never far away.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto, hauled off at half-time in Ramos' final match in charge, made a mess of a simple clearance to put goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes in trouble - the ball fell to Kevin Davies on the edge of the area and his finish dropped just wide.

Matt Taylor then saw an effort, from a similar distance but more central, curl wide, before Johan Elmander got a shot on goal that required King to clear off the line - after Spurs failed to clear a free-kick.

Tom Huddlestone had a couple of efforts before the break, the first when Jussi Jaaskelainen failed to hold a Bentley free-kick, then after O'Hara wriggled inside from the left and passed neatly.

Redknapp had said he wanted more steel in the midfielder - and Bolton were giving them a genuine battle.

Kevin Nolan picked up a booking and was fortunate not to get a second when he tripped Modric, while fellow midfielder McCann also went in the referee's notebook before the break.

The latter was dismissed 11 minutes into the second period, his second yellow card after he caught the ankle of Huddlestone.

Gomes' punching was erratic and Fabrice Muamba lobbed onto the roof of the net after one poor clearance.

Bent came on for Pavlyuchenko and should have added a second when Modric slipped him through, then Aaron Lennon - another substitute - fired over after Huddlestone had an effort saved.

Jaaskelainen brought down Bent with 16 minutes left, and the striker smashed the penalty into the bottom corner.

Bolton boss Gary Megson then endured abusive chants from his own fans after a double substitution - it really was Redknapp's day.

Late goals for Gunners

Emmanuel Adebayor scores the final goal in Arsenal's 2-0 win.

Arsenal capitalised on a poor weekend for title rivals Chelsea and Manchester United to secure maximum points from a hard-fought 2-0 win at West Ham.

• Wenger hails "big win"

Following Liverpool's victory at Stamford Bridge earlier this afternoon, and United's failure to beat Everton, Arsene Wenger's side knew just what was at stake as they looked to keep pace with the Barclays Premier League leaders.

The Gunners - fresh from a fine 5-2 Champions League trashing of Fenerbahce in Turkey - certainly had to dig deep for their win, which came courtesy of an own goal from Julien Faubert when he deflected a shot from substitute Emmanuel Adebayor late in the second half, which was harsh on inspired West Ham keeper Robert Green, before the African wrapped things up in stoppage time.

Nevertheless, it is these such keenly-contested clashes which Wenger's young squad will have to come through if they are to have a say in the destiny of the title come May - and on this afternoon's evidence, they could still just have the final word.

Arsenal were led once more by captain William Gallas, fit again following a thigh problem.

However, both he and fellow France veteran Mikael Silvestre were given plenty to concern themselves during the opening stages by a busy West Ham frontline.

After 10 minutes, it needed a fine tip over from Manuel Almunia to deny the lively David di Michele, who powered in a 20-yard drive which looked set for the top right-hand corner.

Arsenal were being out-manoeuvred in midfield, were Alexander Song, pushed forwards from defence, and Spanish maestro Cesc Fabregas were yet to strike up an understanding.

Winger Theo Walcott had been anonymous, but burst into the game on 20 minutes.

The England man turned his marker just inside the West Ham half before scampering away towards goal down the right.

After riding two challenges on the edge of the box, he darted inside and unleashed a fierce drive which cannoned off the top of Green's crossbar.

Although both Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner were both well placed in the middle, given his current form, Walcott could perhaps be forgiven for being somewhat selfish.

The all-action teenager was in the thick of things again when an intelligent chest down from Van Persie 12 yards out put the ball into his path. However, despite getting a shot away, Green somehow pulled off a superb reflex save down to his right.

West Ham - who were out to avoid a third straight league defeat - needed something to relieve the pressure as the half-hour mark approached.

It came following a quick break when Craig Bellamy chased down a long ball ahead of Silvestre.

The Wales striker drilled in a low, first-time effort from the edge of the penalty area - which Almunia deflected over with his legs.

Bendtner chased what looked a lost cause on the left, before cutting inside to force another fine save from Green at full stretch.

After a low-key start to the second half, the visitors again maintained a spell of patient build-up.

It was almost rewarded when Samir Nasri picked out Walcott on the right, and his low centre was put up over his own bar by the back-tracking James Collins.

The West Ham defender then made a timely intervention to out-muscle van Persie as the Dutchman looked to get on the end of a long ball into the penalty area.

As the hour mark passed, Bellamy got in down the West Ham left - but Gallas was on hand to scramble the loose ball away.

Arsenal went close again when first Collins blocked Walcott's angled effort and then Van Persie's follow-up flew through a crowded six-yard box and hit Lee Bowyer.

With 25 minutes left, Wenger made a double change as Adebayor and Abou Diaby - who had played so well in Turkey - were introduced, replacing Nasri and Walcott.

Green was having an inspired afternoon and made another fine one-handed save to keep out Van Persie's low, angled drive.

When the England stopper was finally beaten by a stinging 25-yard free-kick from the Dutchman, his luck held as the ball cannoned off the base of the post and bounced away.

Arsenal, though, finally got the breakthrough with quarter of an hour to go when Adebayor weaved his way into the area and hit a low shot back across goal.

With Bendtner lurking in the six-yard box, the unfortunate Faubert stuck out a boot which diverted the ball past Green.

Adebayor should then have done better when following up his own shot, only to stab over from close range.

The Togo frontman eventually made sure of what could yet prove to be three vital points in an intriguing title race when he latched on to a long pass up field from Bendtner to round Green and smash the ball into an empty net.

To compound the misery for West Ham, referee Phil Dowd showed striker Carlton Cole what seemed a somewhat harsh straight red card for a sliding tackle from behind on Song.

Wenger hails "big win" Arsene Wenger hailed a "big win'' after Arsenal made the most of slip-ups by Chelsea and Manchester United with a hard-fought 2-0 victory at West Ham to keep pace with Barclays Premier League leaders Liverpool.

"It was a big win for us today,'' Wenger said. "To come out of it with a frustrating 0-0 would have felt like a wasted opportunity to get closer to the top. We knew before the game we could not drop points today.

"West Ham can also feel frustrated because they defended well and gave everything today. Green always has the game of his life against us, it is unbelievable and he repeats that every year.

"We had some strikers on the bench and in the end that made the difference when we got some openings as they fatigued in the last 20 minutes.''

Wenger revealed he had taken a conscious decision to give Adebayor, who was last season's leading scorer, a rest.

"Last year I over-used him and now we go into a period where we play every three days, which is why I want to rotate a little bit," said Wenger. I have a short squad, a compact one, but of quality. I can only show that by trusting the players.''

Adebayor was a target for AC Milan during the summer, but eventually decided to stay at the Emirates Stadium. Wenger feels the Togo striker is showing his commitment to the Gunners cause.

He said: "He fights very hard and came on with 25 minutes left, and fought for every ball - that shows more than all the speeches I can make. We have a great spirit in the side, great quality and are very determined to come back to the top.''

Arsenal are now four points off leaders Liverpool, and have closed the gap on Chelsea to just one. Wenger feels this season will be "tight''.

He said: "One week ago everyone made Chelsea super-favourites, now it is Liverpool. Things change very quickly, which is why it makes it very interesting. We were very close last year and with 83 points, many times you would have been champions.

"However, Manchester United had a fantastic second half of the season, we dropped a little bit of our quality and that is it - I still feel any weakness will be punished.''

Tottenham confirm Redknapp appointment

LONDON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur appointed Harry Redknapp as their new manager on Sunday after the Premier League club sacked Juande Ramos late on Saturday.

Empics

Ramos: No win in the league this season.

Redknapp, 61, leaves Portsmouth after a successful spell at the south-coast club that included steering the club to their first FA Cup triumph since 1939.

In a more than 2000-word open letter to fans on Tottenham's website, chairman Daniel Levy said he had been left with no choice but to remove Ramos, and his assistants Guy Poyet and Marcos Alvarez and director of football Damien Comolli, after the club's worst ever start to a season.

Going into Sunday's home match against Bolton Wanderers they are bottom of the league with just two points from eight matches.

"Unfortunately, our record of just three league wins since our memorable League Cup victory against Chelsea last February, combined with our extremely poor start to the season, led the board and I to determine that significant change was necessary as a matter of urgency," Levy said.

"We are grateful to Juande, Gus and Marcos for all their hard work -- they are incredibly professional, committed individuals and I regret that their time in the Premier League has not gone as well as we had all hoped."

Ramos won the League Cup for Tottenham after replacing Martin Jol a year ago but after the departure of several senior first team players, including strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, in the summer, they have endured an abysmal start.

Defeats against the likes of promoted Hull City and Stoke City have seen many tip Spurs for relegation for the first time since 1978.

"The English Premier League is an unforgiving competition and time was no longer on our side and was a luxury we simply could not afford," Levy added.

"In appointing Harry Redknapp as our new manager, we are delighted to have secured the services of someone we have long since admired and whose track record and knowledge of all levels of football, including importantly the Premier League, is outstanding.

"With his great knowledge of the game and his excellent motivational skills, Harry has inspired his teams to consistently over-perform, whilst his preferred attacking style of playing the game sits comfortably with our club's history, heritage and the type of entertaining football our fans want and expect to see."

Levy said Comolli would not be replaced, signalling the end of Tottenham's continental-type structure where a director of football is responsible for transfer dealings.

"In Harry, we are also accepting with his appointment that now is the right time for us to move back to a more traditional style of football management at our club," said Levy.

Portsmouth said they were sorry Redknapp was leaving and had tried to do everything to keep him at the club where chief executive Peter Storrie said he had "performed a near miracle" in keeping Pompey in the top flight when he first arrived.

"He made it clear that although he has achieved great success here at Fratton Park, apparently Spurs is one of the only clubs he would consider leaving for," Storrie told the club's website.

"We have subsequently agreed a substantial compensation package with Spurs, although our overwhelming desire would have been to retain the manager."