Chelsea pounce after Arsenal slump

Chelsea FC pounced to seize top spot in the Premier League after Arsenal FC lost 5-1 at Liverpool FC in the early game, with Manchester City FC unable to keep pace with the Blues once more.

Arsenal were ripped apart in the opening 20 minutes at Anfield, as Martin Škrtel bundled in from a Steven Gerrard free-kick with his knee in the first minute, and then met his captain's corner with a fine header to make it 2-0 on ten minutes. Things went from dire to wretched quickly for Arsène Wenger's side, Raheem Sterling tapping in a third from a precise Luis Suárez cross before Daniel Sturridge chased down Philippe Coutinho's through-ball to make it 4-0 on 20 minutes.

Sterling then beat Wojciech Szczęsny at the second attempt on 52 minutes to make it 5-0, but there was some recompense for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta fired past Simon Mignolet from the penalty spot following Gerrard's foul on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

José Mourinho's Chelsea pounced to seize the summit as Eden Hazard scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win against Newcastle United FC, completing his treble from the penalty spot after being set up for first-half strikes by Branislav Ivanović and Samuel Eto'o. City had the chance to join them on 56 points but – after losing to Chelsea in the week – could not break the deadlock at Carrow Road, drawing 0-0 against Norwich City FC.

Wayne Routledge, Nathan Dyer and Wilfried Bony struck as Swansea City FC came out on top against South Wales rivals Cardiff City FC in the late game, while elsewhere, an early Sunderland AFC red card helped Hull City AFC earn a 2-0 win on the road, and West Ham United FC eased relegation fears with a 2-0 success at Aston Villa FC. Crystal Palace FC got the better of fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion FC, but Southampton FC twice surrendered leads to draw 2-2 against Stoke City FC.