PREMIER LEAGUE REVIEW:Chelsea trail Liverpool by three points after a Clint Dempsey double denied the Londoners all three points at Craven Cottage in the wake of the league leaders' 5-1 win at Newcastle. Luis Felipe Scolari's side looked to be on their way to victory after a Frank Lampard brace got them back in the game but the American struck the equaliser in the 89th minute.
Fulham took a shock lead when the visitors' defence was at sixes and sevens for Simon Davies's free-kick and allowed Dempsey to poke the ball home.
Scolari was forced into some early changes because of injuries to Alex and Florent Malouda - bringing on Nicolas Anelka and Ricardo Carvalho, for his first start since October 29th following a knee injury.
The second half was dominated by Chelsea. Lampard's first came in the 51st minute, when he tapped in from eight yards out.
The England midfielder's second - a free-kick from outside the area - had more to do with a gap in the Fulham wall and a goalkeeping blunder from Mark Schwarzer.
Dempsey, though, headed home the equaliser and was promptly booked for his goal celebration, while Schwarzer redeemed himself in injury-time by denying Lampard his hat-trick.
Roy Hodgson's side are now unbeaten in nine and have moved into ninth thanks to their sixth draw in that time.
Stoke's game at West Ham was overshadowed by the second half sending off of Ricardo Fuller for unsporting behaviour - against his own team-mate.
Television replays show Fuller taking a swing at Andy Griffin - then getting a straight red card from referee Michael Jones.
Down to 10 men, Stoke were unable to hang on to their early lead given them by Abdoulaye Faye's header at the back post from a corner after four minutes.
A 52nd-minute strike from Carlton Cole levelled the contest, and Diego Tristan claimed the second when Cole's goalbound shot hit the substitute before finding the net.
A stunning 25-yard free-kick from Mikel Arteta gave Everton a dream start against visitors Sunderland after nine minutes.
He doubled the scoreline 25 minutes later, but not in as spectacular fashion. This time his free-kick from a similar distance rebounded off the wall and back to the Spaniard, and his volley at goal rebounded off Daryl Murphy and past the wrong-footed Marton Fulop.
Substitute Dan Gosling put the game beyond Sunderland in the 84th minute, giving the hosts only their second home success of the season and making it a miserable first game in charge for Ricky Sbragia.
William Gallas' header in the 82nd minute from Denilson's free-kick was enough to beat Portsmouth at the Emirates Stadium.
Both sides had good chances. Portsmouth's Peter Crouch came close to opening the scoring, but his header in the 24th minute hit the post.
Mikael Silvestre also nearly broke the deadlock with a second half header which beat David James, but it was cleared off the line by Sylvain Distin.
Gallas' goal means Arsenal go into fourth place, leapfrogging Aston Villa who play at Hull on Tuesday.
Tottenham lost 2-0 at West Brom and had Benoit Assou-Ekotto sent off for a dreadful tackle on Gianni Zuiverloon in the 34th minute.
The hosts proved too strong in the later stages and goals from Roman Bednar (83) and Craig Beattie (90) won it for them.
An injury to Emile Heskey looked like a blow to Wigan's chances at Bolton. The striker was forced off just after the half-hour.
But Steve Bruce's men were given a boost just before half-time when Heskey's replacement Henri Camara was fouled by Andy O'Brien in the area and Amr Zaki converted the spot-kick for the game's only goal — which lifts the Latics up to seventh.
