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Results Based News

Draw damages Reds chances

Author: Rose Young
Date: 22/04/2009

Four goals from Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin put a huge dent in Liverpool's title chances after an eight-goal thriller ended 4-4 at Anfield.

Liverpool's odds of winning the Premier League wih online betting exchanges were severely affected by the result.

One first-half goal from the Gunners' Russia star took his side in at the break with a lead undeserved on the balance of play.

But two second-half strikes from both Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun kept the game hanging in the balance until the closing seconds where points shared seemed a fair result on the night.

Benayoun's stoppage-time second goal salvaged a point for the Reds, but Rafael Benitez's side are now only level on 71 points with Manchester United having played two games more than their main title rivals.

In the Championship, Reading all but booked their place in the play-offs with a 2-0 victory that still leaves Derby short of safety.

Second-half goals from Dave Kitson and Shane Long settled an entertaining and closely contested game, to take Steve Coppell's side six points clear of the teams below them with two matches left.

Cardiff City came from two goals down against relegated Charlton Athletic to salvage a point that virtually cements their play-off position following a 2-2 draw at The Valley.

Further down the table, Elliott Ward's controversial 93rd-minute penalty equaliser for Coventry City dealt Barnsley's Championship survival hopes a massive blow after a 1-1 stalemate at the Ricoh Arena.

The 21st-placed Tykes remain just two points clear of the relegation zone.

In cricket's Indian Premier League, Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Kings Xi Punjab by 11 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method.

However, the game between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to inclement weather in Durban.

Elsewhere, Lendl Simmons hit 102 and Brendan Nash 78 as West Indies declared their first innings on 315-6 on day two of their warm-up match with Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Nottinghamshire reached 334-5 on day one of their Division One County Championship match against Worcestershire.

Sussex also lost five wickets as they reached 247 against Lancashire at Hove.

In Division Two, Gloucestershire were all out for 155 as the wickets tumbled on day one of their encounter with Essex. In reply at Bristol, Essex reached 60-3 at stumps.

Meanwhile, Northamptonshire are 268-5 at close of play on day one against Kent at Canterbury.

In rugby union's Guinness Premiership, Gloucester's play-off hopes took a knock after they lost 13-6 to struggling Worcester at Kingsholm.

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