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SCMP Reporter

ROBBIE Fowler stepped up Liverpool's Premier League title assault as he destroyed top-flight new boys Bolton at Anfield yesterday.

 Fowler cracked four goals as Bolton were crushed 5-2, opening his account after just 12 minutes.

  Jamie Redknapp engineered the opening and then Fowler added a second in the 29th minute as the Bolton defence appealed for offside.

   Fowler completed his hat-trick after the break when he netted from close range just two minutes into the second half and then grabbed a fourth in the 69th minute.

  Bolton staged a mini-fightback with Andy Todd and a Mark Patterson penalty giving them brief hope, but Liverpool had the final say when Steve Harkness cracked home a stunning 25-yarder.

   The victory lifted Liverpool into third place, but Manchester United took over top spot from Newcastle - who face Chelsea today - after a goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

   Alan Shearer and Tony Yeboah both hit hat-tricks as champions Blackburn and Leeds both found their Premier feet again.

  Shearer passed his 100-goal milestone with his first goal against Coventry at Ewood Park and then completed his hat-trick after the break with further strikes from Colin Hendry and Ian Pearce completing Rovers' 5-1 victory - their first since the opening day success against Queen's Park Rangers.

  Yeboah destroyed Wimbledon as he took his personal tally to 10 in all competitions in Leeds' 4-2 win at Selhurst Park.

   Andy Townsend experienced both joy and despair after putting Aston Villa ahead against Nottingham Forest.

  Townsend took a neat back-heel from Dwight Yorke in his stride to put Villa ahead in the 75th minute, but the referee took exception to Villa's lengthy celebrations after the goal and when Townsend - who had been booked earlier - reacted, he was sent off for dissent.

  But Forest claimed a last-gasp equaliser through right-back Des Lyttle who bravely headed home.

   Dennis Bergkamp finally broke his duck with two goals in Arsenal's 4-2 victory over Southampton at Highbury.

  Saints pegged the Gunners back to 2-2 at the break with goals from Gordon Watson and Ken Monkou, but GBP7.5 million capture Bergkamp - who opened the scoring with a neat volley in the first half - hit his second before Ian Wright completed the scoring. Tony Adams headed Arsenal's second after a neat flick-on by fellow defender Steve Bould.

  Manchester City crashed to their sixth league defeat in seven games when Nick Barmby's first-half goal proved enough to give Middlesbrough a 1-0 victory at Maine Road - and left Alan Ball's men rooted firmly to the bottom of the table.

  West Ham bad boy Julian Dicks, facing an FA disrepute charge for allegedly stamping on Chelsea striker John Spencer, struck twice from the penalty spot to give the Hammers their first victory of the season as they beat Everton 2-1 at Upton Park.

 In transfer news, former England striker Mark Hateley will return to English soccer for the first time in 11 years when he moves from Glasgow Rangers to Queen's Park Rangers for GBP1 million tomorrow.



Fowler fires four as Bolton come cropper in goal feast