Neil Mellor drove home a 30-yard shot for the winner deep into injury time as Arsenal tumbled 2-1 at Liverpool on Sunday to fall five points behind Chelsea in the Premier League title race.

A young striker who's only in the Liverpool lineup because of long term injuries to Milan Baros and Djibril Cisse punished a rare mistake by Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure, who failed to deal with a long clearance by goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

The ball came free to Mellor who beat Patrick Vieira to the loose ball and aimed a low shot that flew past Jens Lehmann inside the far post for the winner.

The victory lifted Rafael Benitez' team up to seventh in the standings. But it was another bad loss for Arsene Wenger's men who now see Chelsea well clear in the title race after the Blues' 4-0 victory at Charlton on Saturday. Chelsea has 36 points from 15 games and Arsenal has 31.

Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso fired Liverpool ahead four minutes before half time after a high quality move that began with a long accurate pass from Steve Finnan. Steven Gerrard fed the Spaniard with a well-timed pass into space and he fired home.

But that goal was matched by a typical Arsenal strike, Vieira stroking the ball past the 'keeper after Robert Pires and Thierry Henry had opened up the Liverpool defense with one-touch passes on the edge of the area.

Tottenham's miserable run of six losses in a row ended with an impressive 2-0 beating of high-flying Middlesbrough while third place Everton managed a 1-1 tie at Newcastle.

England striker Jermain Defoe and co-striker Frederic Kanoute scored the goals at White Hart Lane to halt Spurs' slide down the Premier League standings and give Martin Jol his first league victory since he took over from Jacques Santini three weeks ago.

Fifth place Middlesbrough was reduced to 10 men six minutes before half time when defender Franck Queudrue was sent off for a two-footed tackle on Noe Pamarot.

Spurs went ahead four minutes after the break when Pedro Mendes fired in a cross from the right and Defoe turned it home with a first time shot.

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