Premiership Round Up
Under-fire Gerard Houllier's tactics paid off as Liverpool snatched a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tonight.
With England striker Michael Owen on the bench for the first time in two months Houllier chose to bring in Djimi Traore and Bruno Cheyrou - two of the under-achieving foreign players the manager criticised this week - and the latter repaid his boss by scoring the winner.
Lone striker Emile Heskey crossed from the right wing in the 33rd minute and the France international stabbed home his first Premiership goal from six yards.
However, Liverpool's injury worries were worsened when goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek sustained a groin injury in the second half and - with Chris Kirkland already out for two months - had to be replaced by debutant Patrice Luzi.
El-Hadji Diouf was then sent off for a second bookable offence after an innocuous clash with Adrian Mutu in the last five minutes to increase the pressure for the visitors but they clung on to record their first Premiership win at Stamford Bridge.
Defending champions Manchester United extended their lead at the top with a 2-1 win at Bolton after second-placed Arsenal were held 1-1 at Everton.
Paul Scholes opened the scoring for United from close range in the 24th minute when Jussi Jaaskelainen fumbled Ruud van Nistelrooy's shot but the Dutchman was not to be denied 15 minutes later when a swift counter attack saw him tap in Ryan Giggs' pass from inches out.
In the dying moments Jay-Jay Okocha crossed and Youri Djorkaeff headed a consolation.
Meanwhile, a dogged Everton came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with the Gunners. Kanu, who has come back into the frame in recent weeks because of injuries to Dennis Bergkamp and Sylvain Wiltord, put Arsenal ahead in the 29th minute but Tomasz Radzinski equalised 15 minutes from time.
Manchester City's run without a win stretched to 13 matches after a late Charlton penalty denied them. Robbie Fowler scored his third goal in four matches in the 39th minute following good work by Nicolas Anelka.
But six minutes from time the ball hit the hand of Richard Dunne to give the visitors a penalty and although David Seaman saved Paolo di Canio's initial effort, the Italian poked home the rebound.
Two goals from on-loan midfielder Stephane Dalmat put paid to Birmingham in the first half at White Hart Lane. His left-foot 25-yard strike after 10 minutes was followed by a second midway through the half and when Simon Davies made it 3-0 six minutes before half-time, Steve Bruce's side had the Blues.
Robbie Savage pulled one back with a 68th-minute penalty when Dalmat fouled David Dunn but the home side restored the three-goal cushion when Robbie Keane made it 4-1 on 79 minutes.
Wolves showed great resolve to come back from a goal behind at home to Blackburn but a 2-2 draw meant they stayed bottom of the table. Brett Emerton crossed for Andy Cole to score from six yards in the 14th minute but Paul Butler headed home Alex Rae's free-kick in the 63rd minute before Alex Rae put Wolves in front.
However, Dwight Yorke levelled after 78 minutes following Emerton's free-kick.
Joseph-Desire Job put Middlesbrough ahead after 15 minutes against Fulham at the Riverside Stadium and when Edwin van der Sar dropped a cross Szilard Nemeth put in Boro's second in the 67th minute. Barry Hayles scored a very late consolation for Chris Coleman's visitors.
Alan Shearer's solitary goal in the fourth minute was enough to give Newcastle victory over Leeds at St James' Park while Southampton v Leicester finished goalless.