Dempsey points Fulham toward Premiership success

Clint Dempsey may one day be recalled as the best ever American export to the Premier League, and if so the former New England midfielder will remember with a degree of fondness days like this past Sunday at Manchester City’s Eastlands stadium.

The Texan scored a goal on either side of halftime to point Fulham toward an important 3-1 victory in England’s second city. Dempsey’s team moved up to eighth position with the victory and will be facing the pleasant prospect of European football next season should they leapfrog West Ham into seventh spot in the last few weeks of the season.

The current campaign is one of the best in recent memory for the Craven Cottage outfit, and if the gravy train does stop by their humble south London address at season’s end, one can be sure that the club’s fans will remember the performances of their prized American international.

Dempsey’s compatriots Brad Friedel and Tim Howard faced off against one another, albeit a football field apart, as Everton traveled to Aston Villa on Sunday. Howard’s teammates were up for the fight and had Everton 3-1 in front as the game entered the final quarter. But James Milner and Gareth Barry netted late goals to give Villa a point and keep them ahead of the Blues in the standings, and firmly in the hunt for European football next term.

Away from the chasing pack the Premier League title race remains too close to call after Liverpool and Manchester United registered victories again on Saturday. The Merseysiders overhauled their bitter northwest rivals at the summit after a Fernando Torres brace helped them to a 4-0 victory over Blackburn, only for the Red Devils to leapfrog the Anfield club later in the day following a 2-1 victory at Sunderland.

Italian teenager Federico Macheda scored his second consecutive winner in the league as Alex Ferguson's side fended off disaster at the Stadium of Light. The result means that United remain a point clear of Liverpool with a game in hand.

After a moment’s silence in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, Torres lifted the mood at Anfield within five minutes with a sublime opener, the Spaniard taking Jamie Carragher's lofted ball down on his chest with his back to goal, turning as it bounced and looping it over Paul Robinson from the corner of the box.

The former Atletico Madrid man headed a second after 33 minutes from Xabi Alonso's free-kick, and Daniel Agger made it three with a swerving long-range effort in the 83rd minute before substitute David Ngog's header put the gloss on the win in injury time.

At the Stadium of Light, United looked comfortable when Paul Scholes' 18th-minute header gave them the lead against Sunderland, but Kenwyne Jones equalized 10 minutes into the second half, heading the ball down and prodding it over the line from three yards.

However, Macheda came off the bench to divert Michael Carrick's shot past Craig Gordon in the 75th minute with his first touch to keep United at the top of the pile.

Third-placed Chelsea kept in touch with a 4-3 win against Bolton, who staged a remarkable comeback at Stamford Bridge having been 4-0 down with 20 minutes to go.

Michael Ballack put the Blues ahead in the first half and Didier Drogba doubled the lead three minutes after the break, poking the ball home after Frank Lampard had surprised the Bolton defence with a low delivery from a free-kick.

A Lampard penalty and Drogba's second made victory look like a formality for Guus Hiddink's side, but the visitors conjured three goals in eight minutes, strikes from Andy O'Brien, Chris Basham and Matthew Taylor setting up a nervy finale.

Arsenal went nine points clear of Aston Villa in the final Champions League spot after coming from behind to win 4-1 at Wigan.

Mido's snapshot crept under Lukasz Fabianski in the 18th minute, but Arsene Wenger's side stormed back after the break, Theo Walcott, Mikael Silvestre, Andrey Arshavin and Alex Song all scoring to secure a comfortable victory.

SPAIN

Real Madrid kept in touch (albeit six points back) with Primera Division leaders Barcelona on Sunday thanks to a workmanlike 2-0 victory over Real Valladolid at the Bernabeu.

Juande Ramos's club were a long way off peak form, but a goal in each half from Raul and Arjen Robben settled a dull encounter.

Third-placed Sevilla slumped to their fifth home defeat of the season with Getafe's Jaime Gavilan netting the only goal eight minutes from time.

Valencia moved above local rivals Villarreal and into the final Champions League place following a 3-2 win at Sporting Gijon.

On Saturday, leaders Barcelona had moved another step closer to the title after seeing off Recreativo Huelva, 2-0, thanks to an inspired display from Andres Iniesta.

Iniesta scored the opening goal inside the first minute and was also heavily involved in Barca's second midway through the second half, his low cross being turned into his own net by Recre defender Nasief Morris.

Lionel Messi also missed a late penalty for Barca but it made little difference to the outcome.

ITALY

Inter Milan threw away a two-goal lead at home to Palermo on Saturday but remain at the top of Serie A after second placed Juventus failed to take advantage later in the day.

Inter were looking comfortable after Mario Balotelli's strike and a penalty from Zlatan Ibrahimovic had them streets ahead at the break, but two goals in three minutes brought Palermo level as Edison Cavani and Davide Succi netted.

However, Juventus could not take advantage as Genoa continued their march towards the Champions League next season with victory at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Thiago Motta put the home side ahead in the 29th minute, but a controversial penalty from Alessandro Del Piero brought Juve level just before halftime.

Motta restored Genoa's advantage deep into first-half stoppage time before Mauro Camoranesi was shown a red card for Juventus, but Vincenzo Iaquinta pegged Genoa back again five minutes from the end.

But Raffaele Palladino earned Genoa all three points in the 88th minute to take them back above Fiorentina into fourth place.

Juve's loss allowed AC Milan to close to within two points of second place with a 1-0 win over Chievo in Verona. Clarence Seedorf got the only goal of the game early in the second half.

In one of the most controversial contests of the season, struggling Lazio beat Roma in a thrilling capital derby.

Lazio triumphed 4-2 in a game that saw three players sent off. Goals from Goran Pandev and Mauro Zarate put Lazio in command early on but Philippe Mexes cut the deficit in half 10 minutes into the game.

Lazio's Stephan Lichtsteiner restored his team's two-goal advantage before the hour mark and Roma received a further blow when defender Christian Panucci was given his marching orders soon after.

After Lazio's Francesco Matuzalem and Mexes were sent off as well with 15 minutes remaining, Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi made it 3-2 with 10 minutes left. But Lazio defender Aleksander Kolarov wrapped up the win five minutes from time. Roma are now six points behind fifth-placed Fiorentina, while Lazio are down in ninth.