Chelsea’s streak ends at 86 games
Midfielder Xabi Alonso scored in the 10th minute and Liverpool ended Chelsea’s 86-game home unbeaten streak Sunday with a 1-0 victory in an English Premier League game.
Alonso’s shot was deflected by defender Jose Bosingwa. It was the first goal Chelsea gave up in seven league and cup games.
Chelsea had last lost at home in February 2004, against Arsenal.
First-place Liverpool leads Chelsea and Hull by three points.
Liverpool boosted its bid to claim its first title in 19 years by winning at Chelsea for the first time since January 2004.
“Top of the league, psychologically that should give us a big lift,” defender Jamie Carragher said. “[Four years is] a great record. Obviously, it couldn’t go on forever.”
Valencia confirmed its best Spanish league start after David Villa’s second-half goal gave it a 1-1 tie at Valladolid. Valencia, unbeaten through eight rounds, leads with 20 points. . . . Hoffenheim moved to the top of Germany’s Bundesliga with a 3-0 win over Hamburger SV and remained undefeated at home. Hoffenheim has 19 points after nine rounds, one point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen. . . . Spanish striker Javito scored a first-half goal and Aris beat Olympiakos, 1-0, at Thessaloniki. It was the first defeat for the defending champion, which leads the Greek league with 16 points. . . . Former Sweden captain Fredrik Ljungberg, 31, is reportedly set to sign for the Seattle Sounders in Major League Soccer, according to a Swedish television station.
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TENNIS
Federer repeats at Basel
Roger Federer won his hometown tournament for the third year in a row, beating second-seeded David Nalbandian, 6-3, 6-4, in the Swiss Indoors final at Basel. The top-seeded Federer hit eight aces and conceded only seven points on his serve all match.
Top-seeded Andy Murray won the St. Petersburg Open in Russia for the second consecutive year by beating qualifier Andrey Golubev, 6-1, 6-1. . . . Tommy Robredo defeated Jeremy Chardy, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), and Dmitry Tursunov defeated Adrian Mannarino, 6-3, 6-2, and advanced to the second round of the Paris Masters, where three spots in the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai are up for grabs. . . . Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic routed No. 2-seeded Vera Zvonareva, 6-2, 6-1, in the final of the Generali Ladies at Linz, Austria to win her first title since the French Open. . . . Top-seeded Elena Dementieva won her third title of the year, outlasting Caroline Wozniacki, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in the Fortis Championships at Luxembourg.
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SKATING
Hedrick defeats Davis
Chad Hedrick beat Shani Davis in a 5,000 meter race at West Allis, Wis., in which both Olympic medalists shattered the Pettit National Ice Center record for the distance.
Hendrick finished in 6 minutes 16.23 seconds to knock off eight seconds off the mark of 6:24.25 he set Oct. 23, 2005. Davis was second in 6:19.66.
Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. won the women’s 3,000 in 4:08.03 in the other race on the third and final day of competition to select the U.S. World Cup teams.
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SKIING
Albrecht wins giant slalom
Daniel Albrecht and Didier Cuche gave Switzerland a 1-2 finish in the men’s season-opening World Cup giant slalom event on the icy Rettenbach course at Soelden, Austria.
Defending giant slalom champion Ted Ligety of the United States was third, with teammate and defending overall World Cup champion Bode Miller in 10th.
Albrecht, who led after the first leg, finished in a two-run combined time of 2:15.78 to beat Cuche by 0.14 seconds.
Ligety was 1.25 seconds behind Albrecht.
