Liverpool stay a step ahead as top four all win

Liverpool FC maintained their one-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers FC as the top four all won.

Alonso opener
All the goals came in the second half after an uneventful opening period at Ewood Park. Xabi Alonso put Rafael Benítez's side ahead on 65 minutes before Yossi Benayoun added the second ten minutes later. Roque Santa Cruz pulled one back with four minutes to play only for Steven Gerrard to seize on a Paul Robinson error deep into added time to seal the points and stretch Blackburn's winless run in the league to ten games.

Anelka on song
Chelsea FC, in contrast, were celebrating a top-flight record eleventh successive away win following victory at Bolton Wanderers FC. Bolton old-boy Nicolas Anelka opened the scoring with his league-leading 12th goal of the season on nine minutes before Deco added a second 12 minutes later, as Luiz Felipe Scolari's side surpassed the winning mark set by Tottenham Hotspur FC on their travels in 1960.

Adebayor winner
Emmanuel Adebayor got the only goal as Arsenal FC defeated Wigan Athletic FC 1-0 to briefly move up to third, but they soon dropped down again after Nemanja Vidić's last-gasp strike clinched the points for Manchester United against AFC Sunderland in the evening's late match at Old Trafford. United, though, were made to wait before clinching victory in fortuitous fashion. In the visiting side's first match since Roy Keane's resignation as manager, Sunderland looked likely to hold on for a point, until the Serbian international reacted quickest in the final minute to touch in the rebound after Michael Carrick's shot had been deflected on to the post.

Hull fifth
Liverpool lead the way on 37 points, one more than Chelsea, with United third on 31 and Arsenal two points further adrift. Elsewhere, Hull City AFC came from a goal down to defeat Middlesbrough FC 2-1 to go fifth, while Fulham drew 1-1 with Manchester City FC. Despite falling behind to two Michael Owen goals, Stoke City FC battled back to draw 2-2 at Newcastle United FC. Everton FC host Aston Villa FC on Sunday when bottom side West Bromwich Albion FC are at home to Portsmouth FC.