AMSTERDAM – Several Americans clocked in for league action in England on Tuesday, with Tim Howard and Everton suffering through a Merseyside derby to forget en route to a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool.
The US goalkeeper made five saves, including early dazzlers on Jordan Henderson and Luis Suárez. Howard was also charged with a penalty for upending Raheem Sterling in the 54th minute, but Reds forward Daniel Sturridge lifted his resulting spot kick over the bar. The result kept Howard winless in eight tries as a Toffee at Anfield and snapped Everton's seven-match away unbeaten streak to drop the club to sixth place.
Elsewhere in the English Premier League, Clint Dempsey worked a decent 70-minute shift to no avail in Fulham's 2-0 loss at Swansea City.
In arguably his most influential outing since returning to the club on loan earlier this month, the US skipper saw the most threatening of his four shots well-saved near the break. Now tentatively standing a point over the trap door, Fulham have dropped three straight league games and six of seven on the road.
One level down in the Championship, Daniel Williams and Reading continued heating up with a 5-1 demolition of guests Blackpool.
The midfielder led all players with four tackles in the match, allowing the Royals to run free early and often. In addition to ably handling his usual defensive midfield duties, Williams drew a good save from 20 yards just before the hour mark. With three wins in four, sixth-place Reading pulled clear in the race for the last promotion playoff spot.
Barnsley winger Brek Shea celebrated the extension of his loan stay by helping the home side claw back late for a 2-2 draw with visiting Blackburn.
The US international provided solid two-way flank play from a whistle-to-whistle 90 against Rovers, who scouted him while still with FC Dallas. Shea could have notched an assist with a good slip pass near the hour, had it not been for teammate Nick Proschwitz being robbed by Blackburn backstop Paul Robinson. The Tykes, who have yet to lose in three games with Shea on the field, used the point to climb out of the league cellar.
Elsewhere, a strong effort from Will Packwood in central defense went to waste as Birmingham City fell 2-1 to visiting Leicester City.
Making his first league appearance of the season, the 20-year-old rang up a game-high 16 clearances and one crucial saving tackle on Jamie Vardy while the game was still scoreless in the early going. Despite a third straight defeat, the Brums held firm in 17th place.
Bolton left back Tim Ream was removed after taking a blow to the head just five minutes into a 2-1 loss at Queens Park Rangers. Now winless in four, Wanderers stayed docked in 18th place.
Oguchi Onyewu went the distance as Sheffield Wednesday leaked late in a 1-1 share at Millwall.
The center back got away with an early ill-formed back pass, as Owls 'keeper Chris Kirkland covered the error with a big save. Now undefeated in nine games across all competitions, the Owls moved clear of the drop zone in 20th place.
Finally, Duane Homes went unused in 13th-place Huddersfield Town's 2-1 loss at Bournemouth, and Zak Whitbread did likewise as fourth-place Derby County rallied for a 3-2 home victory over Yeovil Town.
