London: Liverpool was surprised by the team with the worst home record in the English Premier League, when it lost to Bolton Wanderers 3-1 on Saturday.

Former Liverpool forward David Ngog had a hand in goals for Mark Davies and Nigel Reo-Coker that seemed to put Wanderers well in control. Craig Bellamy, a constant threat for Liverpool, halved the deficit in the 37th minute before becoming embroiled in an altercation with Reo-Coker as the teams went down the tunnel at halftime.

Then a first goal of the season for defender Gretar Steinsson restored the two-goal cushion for Bolton, which rose four points above the relegation zone.

Chelsea’s slim title hopes took another blow as its expensive strike force misfired in a 0-0 draw at Norwich, on Saturday.

Spain internationals Fernando Torres and Juan Mata, who cost Chelsea a reported £76 million between them, squandered the best chances, as the visitors failed to take advantage of their second-half dominance at Carrow Road.

Chelsea stayed fourth in the standings, 10 points behind Manchester City ahead of the leaders’ home match against third-place Tottenham, on Sunday.

Fifth-place Arsenal can trim the gap to Chelsea to two points with a win at home to second-place Manchester United in Sunday’s other pivotal match. Clint Dempsey scored a hattrick as Fulham roared back from being a goal behind at half-time to trounce Newcastle 2-5.

Newcastle dominated the opening 45 minutes and a superb drive from around 25 yards (meters) from Danny Guthrie put the visitors deservedly ahead. But Danny Murphy levelled from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute and Dempsey struck twice, his first being his 50th goal for Fulham.

Bobby Zamora converted another spot-kick in the 68th minute before Hatem Ben Arfa pulled a goal back for Newcastle.

Dempsey completed the second hat trick of his five-year career in English football, just two weeks after scoring the first against Charlton in the FA Cup on January 7, in the 89th minute.

West Brom ended 30 years without a win at Stoke with a 2-1 victory that also lifted it a little further away from the relegation zone.

Results

Norwich 0 Chelsea 0

Everton 1 Blackburn 1

Fulham 5 Newcastle 2

Queens Park Rangers 3 Wigan 1

West Bromwich Albion 2 Stoke 1

Sunderland 2 Swansea 0

Aston Villa 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2

Bolton Wanderers 3 Liverpool 1