Premier League Review:Arsenal were main beneficiaries from tonight's Premier League action after they defeated Liverpool 1-0 at the Emirates, while leaders Chelsea lost 2-1 at Everton and Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.
Chelsea’s title ambitions suffered a setback as they went down to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of resurgent Everton at Goodison Park.
Louis Saha bagged a brace as Everton came from behind to register a win which saw Manchester United reduce the gap on the league leaders to a single point after they drew at Villa.
Florent Malouda opened the scoring for the visitors after 17 minutes but Saha exposed Chelsea’s weakness from set-pieces by heading a 33rd-minute equaliser.
Saha had a penalty saved by Petr Cech just before half-time but the French striker more than atoned as he fired home the winner 15 minutes from time.
Manchester United played for 60 minutes with 10 men as they held on for a 1-1 draw at Villa Park to move onto the shoulders of the leaders.
Villa took the lead after 19 minutes through Carlos Cuellar, the defender heading his third goal of the season to stun the visitors.
The lead did not last long with James Collins’ own goal four minutes later restoring parity, but United’s task became all the more difficult when Nani saw red for a two-footed lunge on Stiliyan Petrov after 29 minutes.
Arsenal were the big winners on the night as they moved to within six points of the summit with a 1-0 win over Liverpool 1-0 at Emirates Stadium.
Abou Diaby nodded home substitute Tomas Rosicky’s cross for the only goal of the game after 72 minutes.
Liverpool went close to snatching a point inside the final 10 minutes but Ryan Babel saw his long-range effort strike the Gunners’ crossbar but Arsene Wenger’s men held on.
Wolves posted a famous Premier League double against Tottenham thanks to a 1-0 win at Molineux.
Midfielder David Jones’ first league goal of the season after 27 minutes gave Wolves the three points as Mick McCarthy’s men pulled themselves out of the relegation zone.
A superb free-kick from Alessandro Diamanti set West Ham on their way to a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Birmingham at Upton Park which lifted the Hammers out of the drop zone.
The Italian swept home the opener on the stroke of the interval before England striker Carlton Cole doubled the hosts’ advantage after 67 minutes.
Blackburn further eased their relegation worries as they ran out narrow 1-0 winners against Hull.
Rovers hit the front after 16 minutes when Martin Olsson’s low drive across the face of goal was diverted into the net off Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.
Confirmation that it was not to be Hull’s night arrived when George Boateng - the hero of the weekend win over Manchester City - saw red for leading with his arm in an aerial challenge with Morten Gamst Pedersen five minutes before the break.
Selected Cross-channel results
Premier League
Arsenal 1 Liverpool 0
Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 1
Blackburn 1 Hull 0
Everton 2 Chelsea 1
West Ham 2 Birmingham 0
Wolverhampton 1 Tottenham 0
Scottish Premier League
Celtic 2 Hearts 0
Dundee United 0 Hamilton 2
Falkirk 0 Kilmarnock 1
Hibernian 2 Aberdeen 2
Motherwell 1 Rangers 1
St Mirren 1 St Johnstone 1