Rodriguez stars as Liverpool claims welcome win over Bolton

London: Liverpool climbed out of the relegation zone thanks to Maxi Rodriguez’s late winner against Bolton and Kevin Nolan’s hat trick helped Newcastle thrash Sunderland 5-1 for its biggest win over its northeast rival for 54 years.

Rodriguez toe-poked home in the 86th minute to earn Liverpool a second successive Premier League win, after last weekend’s victory against Blackburn, and lift the 18-time champions into midtable yesterday.

Newcastle moved into seventh place by routing 10-man Sunderland thanks to Nolan’s haul and two goals by Shola Amoebi – one coming from the penalty spot. Titus Bramble was sent off against his former club when the score was 3-0, with Sunderland’s consolation coming from Darren Bent.

In the day’s other game, Aston Villa and Birmingham drew 0-0 in a match of few clear-cut chances.

In pic: Maxi Rodriguez