Hapless Reds mauled by Tigers

Kingston upon Hull - Hull put a dent in Liverpool's Premier League title ambitions by beating the Merseysiders for the first time in their history courtesy of a shock 3-1 win on Sunday.

Liverpool kicked-off in second place but this result dropped them to third on goal difference behind Chelsea ahead of the west London side's match at home to Southampton later Sunday.

Both Chelsea and Liverpool were seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Hull took a 20th minute lead when Jake Livermore, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, scored his first Premier League goal with a 25-yard shot that deflected off Martin Skrtel and went over the head of Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

But visitors Liverpool were level seven minutes later at the KC Stadium when England captain Steven Gerrard swept in a 20-yard free-kick.

However Hull -- who started the match 10 points adrift of Liverpool -- put the result beyond doubt with two goals inside the final 20 minutes.

David Meyler made it 2-1 in the 72nd minute after Kolo Toure failed to clear a ball into the Liverpool box and, three minutes from time, Tom Huddlestone's left-footed chip was turned into his own net by Skrtel.

"It is always nice to turn over Liverpool, but it was the response after the loss to Crystal Palace that pleased me," said Hull manager Steve Bruce.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers said his side had suffered from being without injured leading goalscorer Daniel Sturridge.

"I thought we had plenty of effort and commitment but there were too many mistakes and with the ball we didn't create enough," said Rodgers.

"There is no doubt that we miss a player of Daniel Sturridge's quality and we do not have a squad that is big enough to cope with his absence."

The victory united, at least temporarily, Hull owner Assem Allam and those fans of the club unhappy at his intention to change its official name from Hull City AFC to Hull Tigers.

This has prompted chants of "City till we die" at home games from some Hull fans.

Egyptian businessman Allam, in a controversial interview published just hours before the Liverpool match, told the Independent on Sunday: "I don't mind 'City till we die'.

"They can die as soon as they want, as long as they leave the club for the majority who just want to watch good football."

But a rather more conciliatory Bruce said: "I think that because of what the owner said earlier in the day the atmosphere was terrific today, but I don't think that he did that deliberately!

"I think that this club would not be here without the owner. I am happy to speak to the owner and give him my opinion but as I said earlier, if he wants us to play in pink fairy dresses then he is entitled to that view."

Earlier, champions Manchester United needed two goals from Wayne Rooney to help them twice come from behind in a 2-2 draw away to Tottenham.

Spurs went ahead through a Kyle Walker free-kick and then made it 2-1 thanks to a stunning strike from Sandro.

But Rooney hit back on both occasions, although the draw left United nine points adrift of Arsenal.

"We're concerned that we're not as close as we'd like to be but it's a long season," said David Moyes, given the daunting task of succeeding Alex Ferguson as United manager following the Scot's retirement last season.

"I think we've still got room to progress and get better, that's undoubtedly. Hopefully we'll be there or thereabouts."