LONDON - Chelsea ended this weekend on top of the English Premier League table as all their nearest pursuers dropped points.
After winning 5-0 against Blackburn on Saturday, the Blues saw Liverpool end a four-match losing streak Sunday with a 2-0 win at home to Manchester United, a defeat that saw the second-placed champions fail to regain top spot and left Chelsea two points clear at the top.
Arsenal then missed the chance to close the gap on Chelsea to three points when, having gone 2-0 up against second-bottom West Ham, they saw the home side come back to force a 2-2 draw at Upton Park in a match where the Hammers finished a man down after Scott Parker was sent-off.
Manchester City, who could have gone fourth, squandered a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham while, in Sunday's other match, Bolton pulled further clear of the relegation zone with a 3-2 win over Everton at the Reebok Stadium.
Spain striker Fernado Torres, played in by Yossi Benayoun, put Liverpool ahead when he shot high past United keeper Edwin van der Sar in the 65th minute before, five minutes into added on time, David Ngog kept his cool to seal victory.
The Gunners went ahead when West Ham and England goalkeeper Robert Green made a mess of Bacary Sagna's cross, allowing Robin van Persie to shoot into the unguarded net.
Van Persie then turned provider, Willaim Gallas heading in from the Dutch international's corner in the 37th minute.
But, with 16 minutes left, Arsenal keeper Vito Mannone could only parry Alessandro Diamanti's free-kick and Carlton Cole's follow-up header gave the Hammers hope.
And, 10 minutes from time, they were level when, after Alex Song brought down Cole, Diamanti equalised from the penalty spot.
It was a draw that was bound to raise fresh questions about whether Arsenal were too "soft" to win the title.
At Anfield, both teams at Anfield finished a man down after United defender Nemanja Vidic and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano were sent-off after collecting two yellow cards apiece.
"The mentality was good, everyone was working together, plus the 'keeper (Jose Reina) to the last fan on the Kop," Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez told Sky Sports.
"The players answered a lot of questions, that is the most important thing," the Spaniard, who'd received a public vote of confidence from Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow before kick-off, added.
Victory ended Liverpool's worst run for 22 years and saw them close the gap on Chelsea to six points.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, whose team have now lost their last three league encounters against Liverpool, admitted: "All in all, Liverpool were the better team," Ferguson said. "They deserved their victory."
Ferguson promised United would bounce back, saying: "At some points of your season you are going to have disappointments. Last year we lost 4-1 at home to Liverpool, got hold of the bit again and won the league. That's our challenge."
For Ferguson's longtime rival Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, there was fresh frustration in a match where the Gunners had been in complete command.
"It's disappointing," the Frenchman said. "We couldn't get that third goal to finish it off even though we had plenty of opportunities."
Second-half goals from Joleon Lescott and Martin Petrov put Manchester City in front before impressive finishes from Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey helped visitors Fulham gain a point.
Ivan Klasnic's first Bolton goal sealed victory for the Trotters, who moved up five places into 12th spot.
Bolton went 2-0 ahead through Lee Chung-Yong and Gary Cahill before Louis Saha and Marouane Fellaini drew Everton level only for Klasnic to deny the Toffees a draw.