Nicolas Anelka scored twice against his old club to help Bolton Wanderers beat Arsenal 3-1 to climb to third in the Premier League yesterday.
The Frenchman struck in each half after Abdoulaye Faye had put Bolton in front. Gilberto Silva was on target for the Gunners, who have now lost their last three league visits to the Reebok Stadium.
Captain Steven Gerrard grabbed his first league goal of the season to give Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Gerrard broke forward after 67 minutes to beat City keeper Nicky Weaver with a fierce shot from 20 metres and clinch ninth-placed Liverpool's sixth home league win of the season.
Arsenal slid to sixth and if leaders Manchester United beat champions Chelsea today, Arsene Wenger's men would find themselves 15 points off the pace.
Anelka, sold by Arsenal to Real Madrid in 1999 for £23 million ($44.07 million), had not scored for Bolton in the league since arriving from Turkish club Fenerbahce in August but was in scintillating form against his former team.
Faye headed past Jens Lehmann after nine minutes before Anelka made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, cutting in from the left to smash in a swerving shot.
But his celebrations were tempered by Gilberto's headed reply seconds later.
Anelka was denied from close range before he raced away in the 76th minute to calmly slot the third past Lehmann.
Unlucky Arsenal hit the woodwork three times through Freddie Ljungberg, Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas.
Aston Villa held
Aston Villa moved into fifth spot when Gareth Barry's penalty on the stroke of half-time salvaged a 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough after Malcolm Christie had put the visitors ahead.
Liverpool's title hopes already looked fanciful as a result of dismal away form which has yielded only one goal and two points, yet at Anfield they have been a model of consistency.
City, also winless away from home, frustrated Liverpool and it needed the magic of Gerrard to unlock their defence.
West Ham were watched by new Icelandic chairman Eggert Magnusson at home to Sheffield United after his consortium bought the club for £85 million on Tuesday.
The Hammers celebrated the new era with a nervy 1-0 victory over their fellow strugglers thanks to a goal by Hayden Mullins.
Reading made it three wins in a row, going up to seventh with a 1-0 victory at 10-man Fulham.
Kevin Doyle scored from the spot after 17 minutes, having been fouled by Ian Pearce who was sent off.
Charlton Athletic stayed bottom after coming from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Everton at the Valley.
Everton went ahead with an own goal from Hermann Hreidarsson before Andy Reid levelled for the home side in the 68th minute.
Top scorers
8 goals Drogba (Chelsea), Kanu (Portsmouth)
7 goals Rooney (Man. United); Doyle (Reading)
6 goals Johnson (Everton); Henry (Arsenal); D. Bent (Charlton)
Premier League fixtures
Playing today
Man. United vs Chelsea 17.00
Newcastle vs Portsmouth 14.30
Tottenham vs Wigan 16.00
Tuesday
Premier League 9 p.m. Watford vs Sheffield United.
Wednesday
Premier League 8.45 p.m. Aston Villa vs Manchester City; Fulham vs Arsenal. 9 p.m. Bolton vs Chelsea; Liverpool vs Portsmouth; Manchester United vs Everton.
Saturday
Premier League 12.45 p.m. Arsenal vs Tottenham. 4 p.m. Blackburn vs Fulham; Portsmouth vs Aston Villa; Reading vs Bolton; Sheffield United vs Charlton; Wigan vs Liverpool. 6.15 p.m. Middlesbrough vs Manchester United.
Sunday
Premier League 5 p.m. Everton vs West Ham.
Monday, December 4
Premier League 9 p.m. Manchester City vs Watford.