Everton beat Portsmouth to reclaim fourth spot

By Mike Collett

LONDON (Reuters) - Everton beat Portsmouth 3-1 at Goodison Park on Sunday to move back into fourth place in the Premier League after their Merseyside rivals Liverpool briefly moved into the position earlier in the day.

Liverpool also won 3-1, at relegation-threatened Bolton Wanderers, in Sunday's early kickoff and briefly moved ahead of Everton until David Moyes's men scored an emphatic win over Pompey.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni put Everton ahead after 47 seconds against his former club and scored his second of the game to make it 3-1 nine minutes from time.

He has now scored six goals in his last three games since returning from Nigeria's African Cup of Nations campaign.

Jermain Defoe had pulled Portsmouth level after 38 minutes but Tim Cahill's well-taken 73rd-minute header restored Everton's advantage.

Arsenal, who drew 1-1 with Aston Villa on Saturday, lead the standings with 65 points from 28 matches, followed by champions Manchester United (64 from 28), Chelsea (58 from 27), Everton (53 from 28) and Liverpool (50 from 27).

The race for the fourth Champions League spot will take another twist on Wednesday when Liverpool take on West Ham United at Anfield.