Victory lifts Liverpool into third

Liverpool climbed to third place in the English Premier League after extending their unbeaten run to 14 matches with a 4-0 victory at home to struggling Bolton on Sunday.

Rafael Benitez's side notched a third successive league victory to close within six points of leaders Arsenal and one behind second-placed Chelsea.

Manchester United, level on 30 points with Liverpool, have the chance to reclaim second place in Monday's match against Fulham, with England striker Wayne Rooney expected to make his return from injury.

Bolton, who snatched a last-gasp 1-1 draw against Aris Salonika in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, were unable to follow up last weekend's shock 1-0 win against United and stayed just above the relegation zone.

Liverpool attacked from the start, with England striker Peter Crouch having a close-range shot blocked on the line by Bolton defender Lubomir Michalik in the fifth minute.

Defender Sami Hyypia headed the opening goal after 17 minutes when he lost his marker Abdoulaye Meite to meet Steven Gerrard's free-kick and score his second goal this season.

Nicolas Anelka should have equalized on 38 minutes after a collision between goalkeeper Jose Reina and Jamie Carragher, but France's former Liverpool striker hit the sidenetting.

Record signing Fernando Torres doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time with his 11th goal this season, taking Steven Gerrard's fine pass and beating keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen from a tight angle.

England midfielder Gerrard made it 3-0 from the penalty spot on 55 minutes after fouled Crouch, while Ryan Babel wrapped it up with five minutes left.

The Dutch winger scored from close range after Jaaskelainen could not deal with a shot from Dirk Kuyt, who had come on to replace Torres.

In London, new Birmingham manager Alex McLeish celebrated his first match in charge with a last-gasp 3-2 victory away to 10-man Tottenham.

McLeish, who quit as Scotland boss last week, saw former Arsenal midfielder Sebastian Larsson score a stunning 25-yard winner to give Juande Ramos his first defeat in six games as Tottenham manager.

The result lifted Birmingham to 12th place -- three points above Spurs, now just a point above the relegation zone in 16th.

Tottenham -- who came from 2-0 down to beat Aalborg 3-2 in the UEFA Cup on Thursday -- dominated the first half but striker Gary McSheffrey put City ahead from the penalty spot in the 24th minute after being fouled by Younes Kaboul.

Robbie Keane leveled with a spot-kick five minutes after the interval after strike partner Dimitar Berbatov was brought down by Johan Djourou and then netted his 12th goal this season from substitute Tom Huddlestone's well-flighted pass.

However, Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome exposed Tottenham's defensive weaknesses to make it 2-2 in the 62nd minute.

Berbatov hit the post and also had a goal-bound header blocked before Republic of Ireland international Keane was sent off in the 68th minute by referee Phil Dowd for a late tackle on Fabrice Muamba.

Birmingham took advantage of their extra man, with Mikael Forssell hitting the crossbar and fellow substitute Olivier Kapo denied by a fine Paul Robinson save before Larsson gave the axed England keeper no chance in time added on.

It was Birmingham's first win at White Hart Lane in 24 years E-mail to a friend

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