Liverpool cruised to their fourth successive Premier League win by brushing aside Newcastle 3-0 on Saturday.

The Reds took their goal tally in their last three Anfield matches to 10 to leave Kevin Keegan still without a victory since his return as boss to St James Park.

Newcastle had done well until two minutes from the break, when Jermaine Pennant was fortunate to deflect home his first of the season.

Then with seconds to go before the break, Fernando Torres scored another cracker, his 25th of the season, before Steven Gerrard added the third with a cool chip in the second-half.

Relegation battlers Reading boosted their hopes of beating the drop with a 2-0 win over Manchester City at Madejski Stadium.

A second-half strike from Shane Long - with new assistant Republic of Ireland manager Liam Brady watching in the stands - and a late goal from substitute Dave Kitson proved enough for a second successive win by the Royals to move out of the bottom three.

City lost captain Richard Dunne to a leg injury, which needed stitches, and also had a strong penalty appeal turned down by referee Uriah Rennie.

Jimmy Bullard grabbed a late equaliser as Fulham stunned Blackburn to earn a 1-1 draw and keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation.

The struggling Cottagers looked to be heading towards another defeat as Morten Gamst Pedersen headed Blackburn in front just before the hour at Ewood Park.

But Fulham hit back late on as Bullard stepped up to curl home a free-kick from the edge of the area.

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