Lisbie hat-trick floors Liverpool
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LONDON, England -- Jamaican striker Kevin Lisbie scored a hat-trick to give Charlton a pulsating 3-2 victory over Liverpool in the English Premier League.
Czech midfielder Vladimir Smicer gave Liverpool an early lead, brilliantly put through by Australian Harry Kewell.
But Lisbie lobbed in the equalizer on 31 minutes and then tapped home a close range rebound two minutes before halftime.
England striker Michael Owen equalized within minutes of the re-start from the penalty spot after Emile Heskey was fouled, but Lisbie, who has been regularly barracked by Charlton fans, answered his critics in style with a superb solo winner on 83 minutes.
He crowned a dazzling long run with a curling 20-yard shot past Jerzy Dudek.
"It's my first hat-trick, and to get it against Liverpool is great for me," Lisbie said. "At the beginning of the season I was getting booed off and it was difficult for me because I've been at the club since I was 14. "
Critical match
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier said the loss made the next match against Arsenal at Anfield even more critical.
"Arsenal next is a big test because we are some points behind them now, so it will be make or break, and the boys know it. They know they have to respond."
Steve Watson was another hat-trick hero as Everton trounced struggling Leeds 4-0. His goals came after 27, 37 and 52 minutes, with Duncan Ferguson heading the other in the 39th.
Fulham's Luis Boa Morte and Louis Saha were on target as Fulham inflicted Blackburn's third successive home defeat, 2-0.
Boa Morte accepted a gift in the fifth minute when Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel and Martin Taylor left each other to clear and Saha held off Lorenzo Amoruso's challenge to drive in the second after the break.
Tottenham, with David Pleat in the managerial hot seat, held Manchester City to a goalless draw, but only thanks to some loose finishing from City's strikers.
