Liverpool close to throwing in title towel

Rafael Benitez came close to conceding defeat in the Premier League title battle after a shock 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough left Liverpool struggling to keep leaders Manchester United within sight.

The demoralising defeat at the Riverside allowed Chelsea, who snatched a last-gasp winer against Wigan, to move into second place on goal difference.

But the real winners were champions Manchester United, who now stand seven points clear of both their closest rivals with a game in hand.

“Before the game it was very difficult (to catch United), now it will be more difficult,” Benitez admitted before bemoaning the poor finishing that had cost his side the chance of victory.

“You have to take your chances if you want to win these games,” he said. “The first 30 minutes we had five chances and we didn’t score a goal. It has been a problem during the season and today has been the same.”

Three days after beating Real Madrid in the Bernabeu, Liverpool were brought back down to earth with a painful bump as a Xabi Alonso own goal and a second-half strike for man-of-the-match Tuncay Sanli gave Boro their first league win since November 9.

Chelsea’s late show epitomised the battling spirit they have rediscovered since Guus Hiddink’s arrival as temporary manager but the Dutchman is not optimistic about the chances of chasing down United.

“Let’s be realistic,” he said. “We are depending on the loss of points of Man United and we must win our games. United is very stable but, as long as it is possible, we don’t give up.”

United did not have a league game at the weekend because of Sunday’s League Cup final date with Tottenham, which will see Sir Alex Ferguson’s side attempt to claim their second trophy of the season following their triumph in the World Club Championship in Japan in December.

Arsenal were jeered off the pitch by their own supporters after a 0-0 draw at home to Fulham — their fifth straight draw in the league and a fourth consecutive goalless stalemate.

If Aston Villa can beat relegation-threatened Stoke on Sunday, the Gunners will find themselves eight points adrift of a top four finish with only 11 games left to close the gap.

“We dropped two points we basically couldn’t afford to drop today,” acknowledged Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger whose side now look as if they may have to win this year’s Champions League if they are to return to the tournament next season.

Chelsea had been far from convincing early on but they seized control of the match midway through the opening period thanks to a John Terry volley that was deflected into the net off Emmerson Boyce.

Olivier Kapo claimed a 82nd-minute equaliser for Wigan who were left aggrieved over what they felt was a push by Frank Lampard on Mario Melchiot just before he headed in the winner.

“It was a blatant push and the referee was only ten yards away,” fumed Wigan boss Steve Bruce. “Sometimes you go to these big clubs and the amount of decisions that go against the smaller clubs is unbelieveable. It really is.”

Australia midfielder Tim Cahill helped Everton move to within two points of fifth-placed Arsenal with a headed opener in a 2-0 win over bottom side West Brom.

Cahill’s eighth goal of the season came late in the first half at Goodison Park and Louis Saha sealed the points with a sublime second after the break, leaving the Baggies winless in eight matches and looking doomed to an immediate return to the Championship.