Torres double strike helps a thrilling comeback win for Liverpool against Man City in EPL

Liverpool 3 (Torres 55' 73', Kuyt 90') Man City 2(Ireland 18', Garrido 41')

Liverpool went through ecstasy and agony against Man City - celebrating a fabulous fightback but losing Martin Skrtel with a serious knee injury.

After being two goals down at City, Dirk Kuyt's last-gasp goal sealed their best comeback win since the Champions League Final in Istanbul.

But Skrtel (right) - hurt making a superb tackle to deny Ched Evans with the score at 2-2 - will be out for months with ligament damage.

Seconds after the defender was taken off on a stretcher, Kuyt stabbed in the winner.

City were flying when Stephen Ireland opened the scoring and Javier Garrido doubled the lead just before half-time.

But Fernando Torres pulled a goal back for the visitors and City then had Pablo Zabaleta sent off on 67 minutes for a stupid lunge at Xabi Alonso.

City were fuming when Skrtel got away with a kick to Jo's back which disrupted their plans by forcing him off. Gelson Fernandes came on to replace him.

Liverpool were soon level through Torres's second goal of the game and completed their turnaround when Kuyt struck in injury time.

Other matches in EPL:

Tottenham 0-1 Hull City

Blackburn 0-2 Manchester United

West Brom 1-0 Fulham

Wigan 0-1 Middlesbrough

Everton 2-2 New Castle

West Ham 1-3 Bolton

Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa

Portsmouth 2-1 Stoke City

Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal

Chelsea gets closer to Manchester Utd in English Premier League

Chelsea trimmed Manchester United’s lead at the top of the Premier League to five points on Sunday with a patchy 1-0 defeat of Middlesbrough. Liverpool, meanwhile, took control of the fight for fourth place with a 1-0 win over city rival Everton on Sunday. While Chelsea were in second place after a 1-0 win over visiting Middlesbrough, Liverpool moved five points clear of their neighbours through Fernando Torres’ 28th goal of the season. Ricardo Carvalho’s header inside the opening five minutes at Stamford Bridge gave Chelsea the perfect start but they were guilty of not killing the game as Shaun Wright-Phillips twice wasted good chances. Chelsea rode their luck after the break when Boro substitute Afonso Alves could have scored a hat-trick. The £12 million Brazilian signing was twice denied by the woodwork and also missed the target when unmarked in front of goal. Chelsea have 71 points from 32 games to United’s 76. Arsenal are in third place with 70 points. Boro remain 12th and still not safe from relegation. United show class against Villa Earlier on Saturday, Manchester United swept Aston Villa aside to move closer to retaining the trophy on a day when Arsenal had to produce an extraordinary fightback to prevent their fading title hopes from being extinguished. The Gunners battled back from two goals down with ten men to end a five-match winless run with a lastgasp 3-2 victory at Bolton. But that did not reduce the six-point gap between them and a United side whose 4-0 defeat of Villa was brilliantly orchestrated by Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger started proceedings with his 35th goal of the season — a cheeky backheel from ten yards out — before providing the decisive passes that allowed Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney (twice) to net United’s other goals.

Ronaldo stars as Man Utd wins

Cristiano Ronaldo was hailed as a footballing “genius” after the Portugal winger eclipsed George Best as the highest-scoring winger in Manchester United's history and helped edge the Red Devils closer to another English title. Ronaldo took his United scoring tally for the season to a remarkable 33 goals after hitting the net twice as Sir Alex Ferguson's side defeated Bolton 2-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday. United, who entertain fourth-placed Liverpool on Sunday, are now clear favourites to retain the Premier League title after opening up a three-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal with eight games to play. Ronaldo went past Best's record of 32 goals in a single season—set in 1967-68—with two fabulous first-half strikes, an opportunist finish from 12 yards followed by a stunning 30-yard free-kick. Ferguson was glowing in his praise of Ronaldo, who he made captain for the night in the absence of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney. “He didn't make a big issue of it,” said Ferguson when asked how Ronaldo reacted to being handed the captain's armband. “He looks comfortable with the responsibility that comes with the role. It was a marvellous second goal.” Ferguson had bemoaned his side's "charitable" finishing before this game yet he need not have worried. After seeing his side struggle to overcome doomed Derby County four days earlier and having been eliminated from the FA Cup the previous weekend, Ferguson had demanded his players rediscover their touch in front of goal. The message was heeded by Ronaldo as he notched his 23rd and 24th league goals of the campaign, but Ferguson insisted the title race remained open even though his side are in pole position. “The important thing was that we had the opportunity and the incentive to go three points clear of Arsenal, our nearest pursuers,” the Scot said. “It’s nip and tuck now. I think it's going to go to the wire. Chelsea will be key because they have got us and Arsenal at home. It's a lead, it's not a significant lead but it’s a lead nonetheless. With eight games to go the team who plays with the most consistency now will win it.” Ferguson made seven changes from the side who struggled to beat Derby and revealed that he had been looking at options ahead of Sunday's meeting with Liverpool. Gerard Pique came in for the injured Rio Ferdinand while Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were all rested.

Chelsea squander chance in thriller: Chelsea, meanwhile, lost ground in the Premier League title race as Avram Grant's side blew the lead three times in a dramatic 4-4 draw at Tottenham. The Blues had only themselves to blame for failing to keep pace with leaders Manchester United after leading 3-1 and then 4-3 with five minutes to play in one of the games of the season at White Hart Lane. Didier Drogba opened the scoring early on only for Jonathan Woodgate to equalise. Michael Essien and Joe Cole put Chelsea in charge but Dimitar Berbatov and Tom Huddlestone levelled for Spurs. Cole's second goal looked to have won it but there was a sting in the tail when Robbie Keane equalised two minutes from time with a curling shot from 25 yards. Instead of sitting level with Arsenal and within touching distance of United, Grant's team are now five points off top-spot and two behind Arsenal, who they face on Sunday. This could be the night Chelsea regret most if they don't reclaim the title. Memories of their League Cup final defeat to Spurs were still raw for Chelsea but the chance to maintain their pursuit of the title was more important than settling old scores. The temperature of an already fiery clash rose when Ashley Cole caught Alan Hutton with a nasty lunge. The tackle drew an angry response from both benches, with Spurs demanding a red card, while Grant had to be restrained after trying to berate Hutton for exaggerating the foul.