Premier League Round-Up:Arsenal trounced Derby 5-0 to cement their place at the top of the Barclays Premier League, thanks in no small part to a hat-trick from Emmanuel Adebayor.
Abou Diaby opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a stunning run and shot from the edge of the box, and Adebayor (25) then collected Cesc Fabregas' pass to take the ball round Stephen Bywater and slot home.
Adebayor (50) added a third from the spot after Matt Oakley tugged at Eduardo Da Silva's shirt, Fabregas (70) smashed a brilliant fourth from 30 yards and the Adebayor (79) sealed his hat-trick late on.
Arsenal's win took them three points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who drew 3-3 at Fulham in the evening fixture.
City fell behind at Craven Cottage to a 13th minute header from Welsh midfielder Simon Davies, but powered back with two goals from Bulgarian midfielder Martin Petrov and one from French striker Emile Mpenza.
Algerian midfielder Hameur Bouazza had fired Fulham 2-1 ahead, but they needed a goal from substitute Danny Murphy after 75 minutes to salvage a point.
Liverpool did their own title hopes no good with a goalless draw against Birmingham at Anfield.
The Reds, starting just two points behind the Gunners, struggled to open up Steve Bruce's team in a goalless first half, with John Arne Riise's first-time shot the closest they came.
Andriy Voronin's shot just before the hour was well saved by the sprawling Maik Taylor and substitute Fernando Torres' overhead kick flew just over but there was no way through for the home side.
Liam Miller's 89th-minute stunner saved Sunderland in a 2-2 draw with north-east rivals Middlesbrough at the Riverside.
Sunderland took the lead in the second minute when Michael Chopra's shot struck Grant Leadbitter, allowing him to collect the ball and fire home from close range, but Black Cats old-boy Julio Arca (14) soon levelled with a back-post header.
Dong-Gook Lee curled a shot just wide before Stewart Downing (67) hit a 30-yard shot that deceived Craig Gordon, but Miller's brilliant volley pegged Boro back.
Reading beat Wigan 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium thanks to James Harper's last-minute goal.
The Royals took the lead when Chris Kirkland spilled a shot in the 28th minute allowing Dave Kitson to tap home, although they were lucky not to concede a penalty when Jason Koumas was brought down on the edge of the box, and he hit the crossbar with the resulting free-kick.
Marcus Bent (50) rose to head an equaliser from a corner but Harper kept his cool to finish for the last-gasp winner.
