London  - Liverpool's title hopes look well and truly over after they were beaten 2-0 at Middlesbrough in the English Premier League on Saturday.

An own goal from Xabi Alonso and a second-half strike by Tuncay Sanli sealed victory for the home side and dealt Rafael Benitez's side a fatal blow.

Liverpool are still seven points behind leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand, but they are now third after Chelsea beat Wigan Athletic 2-1.

Everton moved to within a point of the top five after a comfortable 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool started without Fernando Torres after the Spaniard suffered an ankle injury in the midweek Champions League win in Real Madrid.

They did have captain Steven Gerrard fit again, though, and Liverpool were arguably the better side, only to fall behind on 32 minutes when a corner hit Alonso's hip and went past Pepe Reina.

Nabil El Zhar missed a sitter that would have levelled the scores and things then got worse as Tuncay turned the ball in for the second goal on 63 minutes.

Chelsea moved above Liverpool on goal difference after their last-minute 2-1 win over Wigan.

John Terry had put them ahead on 25 minutes, but Olivier Kapo equalized eight minutes from time only for Lampard to snatch the winner in injury time.

Arsenal suffered their fourth successive 0-0 draw at home as they were held by Fulham - the first time they have done that since 1993.

The result leaves Arsenal still fifth, well off the title pace, but only two points above Everton, who improved their hopes of European football next season by beating bottom side West Brom, with Tim Cahill and Louis Saha scoring the goals. (dpa)