Livorno 2-1 Parma

Livorno eased their fears of relegation from Serie A with a hard-fought victory over Parma at the Stadio Armando Picchi.

Francesco Tavano gave the home side the lead midway through the first period and veteran forward Cristiano Lucarelli doubled their advantage 17 minutes into the second half.

Blerim Dzemaili pulled one back for Parma six minutes later but Livorno held on as Francesco Guidolin's side ran out of steam.

Parma dropped to eighth with the defeat, while Livorno are now six points clear of the bottom three.

Dzemaili was the first to go close for Parma when his free-kick in the second minute whistled wide.

Livorno then had Colombian defender Nelson Rivas to thank for keeping the scoresheet blank as he got a vital block on a Daniele Galloppa shot 10 minutes later after good work down the left flank from Frenchman Jonathan Biabiany.

Parma continued to press for the opening goal and just before the 20-minute mark Biabiany raced clear and when his shot was blocked by Livorno goalkeeper Alfonso de Lucia, Cristian Zaccardo lobbed the rebound just over the top.

Against the run of play Livorno forged ahead, and it came from a moment of magic from Tavano. The 30-year-old forward took on Massimo Paci and then unleashed a swerving shot which evaded goalkeeper Antonio Mirante.

Stung by the goal, Parma responded and after a break by Luca Antonelli was cut short by a dubious offside flag, Livorno goalkeeper De Lucia had to make a smart stop after Alberto Paloschi stabbed a corner from the left goalwards.

Galloppa had the last chance of the half for Parma with a free-kick which clipped the post, with De Lucia not well placed to make a save.

Tavano should have added his and Livorno's second two minutes into the second half when he caught veteran defender Christian Panucci in possession but he lifted the ball over the onrushing Mirante and over the crossbar.

Livorno's second goal did eventually arrive, and Lucarelli provided it for his third of the season. He beat the Parma offside trap and after controlling Antonio Filippini's cross he applied a cool finish to give Mirante no chance.

The visitors set up a tense finish to the match as Switzerland international Dzemaili drilled a shot through a sea of bodies to beat the unsighted De Lucia.

However, they failed to push for an equaliser and it was Livorno who came closer to adding the game's fourth goal.

Brazilian defender Marcos Diniz glanced a header just wide from a Filippini set-piece and with three minutes to go the Leghorn team's last chance went begging when Zaccardo cleared off the goalline for Parma with Tomas Danilevicius in close attendance.