Leeds leap to summit as Liverpool slip up

Leeds United welcomed in the new year by returning to the top of the English premier league on Tuesday with a stylish 3-0 victory over West Ham United at Elland Road.

Helped by two goals from Australian striker Mark Viduka in the first seven minutes, David O'Leary's fluent side went top of the table for the first time since early November.

The win lifted Leeds's points tally to 41, two more than Arsenal and Newcastle United. Liverpool stay fourth on 38 points after being held 1-1 at home by Bolton Wanderers earlier on Tuesday.

The day's big shock was lowly Southampton's stunning 4-2 victory at in-form Chelsea, whose habit of losing to lesser sides returned to haunt them.

Arsenal's match at bottom club Leicester City was postponed due to frost.

Champions Manchester United, fifth on 36 points, can move to within two points of Leeds on Wednesday if they beat Newcastle United, who themselves would go top again if they won.

Viduka caught West Ham cold on a frosty night at Elland Road with two chilling early finishes.

First he diverted home Alan Smith's cross following a neat link with Robbie Fowler, then he dived to head home Danny Mills's pinpoint cross.

Fowler delightfully chipped West Ham's giant goalkeeper David James for Leeds's third five minutes after the break, the England striker's sixth goal for the club since his move from Liverpool.

Leeds would have added to their tally but for a string of wonderful saves by James.

OWEN FOILED

Liverpool were slow to get moving against a Bolton side who had not won at Anfield for 48 years.

They were better in the second half, especially once Steven Gerrard had cashed in on some good work by Michael Owen to shoot them ahead in the 50th minute.

Owen had two opportunities himself but was foiled by Jussi Jaaskelainen on both occasions.

Bolton, who beat Liverpool at the Reebok Stadium in September, grew in confidence and deserved their 78th minute Kevin Nolan equaliser. Only good work by Jerzy Dudek in the Liverpool goal prevented them chalking up an historic double.

Chelsea also went into the new year on a high having won at leaders Newcastle at the weekend but fell behind in the seventh minute to a sensational 30-metre free kick by James Beattie.

They equalised through Eidur Gudjohnsen in the 20th minute and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made it 2-1 just before the break with his 14th league goal of the season.

Southampton, however, came out firing and equalised through Marian Pahars after a pinpoint 60 metre pass by defender Paul Williams in the 56th minute.

Poor defending then allowed Chris Marsden to head Saints ahead in the 64th minute and Beattie got the fourth 10 minutes later.

Chelsea boasted the meanest defence in the league before the game with just 16 goals conceded in 20 games but they were all at sea on Tuesday.

STRACHAN PROUD

The defeat was a huge disappointment for their fans who had seen their team become serious challengers after victories over Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester United in December only to slip back to their old ways with a home defeat against a struggling team.

However, Southampton manager Gordon Strachan was more interested in a vital win for his team.

"This was a good performance against top, top players and we are proud of ourselves today," he told Sky Sports TV.

Tottenham Hotspur kept up their chase for a European place with a 1-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers, courtesy of a Dean Richards header. Andy Cole drew a blank on his Rovers debut.

At the other end of the table resurgent Ipswich, seeking a fourth successive victory after winning just one of their first 17, were 2-0 up at Charlton Athletic after five minutes but lost 3-2.

Another relegation battle is also looming for Everton after a fifth successive defeat, 1-0 at Middlesbrough, left manager Walter Smith under increasing pressure.

The day's other game saw Sunderland, whose England striker Kevin Phillips had a penalty saved, draw 1-1 at home with Aston Villa.