Kuyt fires Reds ahead in first half

Dirk Kuyt eased the tension at Anfield by sweeping Liverpool into a half-time lead over Owen Coyle’s battling Bolton at Anfield.

Kuyt fired the opener in the 37th minute after Emiliano Insua’s cross was flicked across goal by Alberto Aquilani.

Bolton had given Rafael Benitez’s men plenty of scares early on with Chung-Yong Lee beating Jose Reina but seeing his shot booted off the line by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

Lee also had a penalty claim waved away after falling under the challenge of Aquilani in the box, with the striker instead booked for diving.

Gabriel Agbonlahor’s double put Aston Villa in total control against Fulham at Craven Cottage as Martin O’Neill’s men looked to maintain the pressure on the top four.

Agbonlahor rifled home a 40th-minute header from Stiliyan Petrov to open the scoring and added his second four minutes later when he turned Brede Hangeland in the box before firing home.

Earlier, Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer had saved well from Luke Young and Petrov, but the home side could have grabbed the lead when Bobby Zamora saw his shot tipped over the bar by Brad Friedel.

Jan Vennegor of Hesselink scored his third goal for Hull as they took an 11th-minute advantage in a crucial relegation scrap against Wolves at the KC Stadium.

Birmingham and Tottenham were deadlocked after an entertaining and hard-fought first half at St Andrew’s, with Christian Benitez missing the best chance when he hit a weak shot straight at Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

Luka Modric dragged an early chance wide for the visitors and the impressive David Bentley saw his effort saved by Blues goalkeeper Joe Hart as Spurs ended the half on top.

Everton saw calls for a penalty waved away in a goalless first half at Wigan, with referee Lee Probert waving play-on after Gary Caldwell appeared to trip Louis Saha.

Saha had had the best chance when his right-footed shot deflected off Titus Bramble onto the base of the post, while Jason Scotland hit a good chance for the home side over the bar.

West Ham’s first game under the ownership of David Sullivan and David Gold produced a dismal first half at Upton Park, with the best chance falling to Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pedersen who hit the bar.