Chelsea, Liverpool and Man United fire blanks

Leaders Chelsea and title rivals Liverpool were held to 0-0 home draws yesterday while Arsenal's season went from bad to worse.

Chelsea could find no way through Newcastle United while Liverpool had the same problem against Fulham.

Third-placed Manchester United also drew 0-0 at Aston Villa, meaning the top four all failed to score.

Troubled Arsenal suffered a 3-0 drubbing at Manchester City to drop to fifth and leave their title hopes in disarray.

With captain William Gallas dropped for questioning the fighting spirit of his team-mates, an injury-hit Arsenal capitulated in meek fashion as Stephen Ireland, Robinho and Daniel Sturridge were on target for City.

Arsenal are 10 points behind Chelsea and Liverpool, who are locked together on 33 points from 14 matches although Chelsea have a superior goal difference. United are eight points behind with a game in hand while Villa rose to fourth.

Hull City twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Portsmouth, Bolton won 3-1 at Middlesbrough while bottom club West Bromwich Albion went down 1-0 at Stoke City.

Chelsea were left frustrated by a gritty Newcastle performance.

Shay Given was Newcastle's hero, making a superb save from Frank Lampard while Joe Cole, who like his team-mate missed England's victory over Germany on Wednesday, had a goal disallowed.

The dropped points could have proved costly for Luiz Felipe Scolari's team but Liverpool were also off colour at Anfield as improving Fulham threatened an upset.

Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina had to make good saves in the first half from Jimmy Bullard and Andrew Johnson.

The home side dominated after the break but could find no way past Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Arsenal's season appears to be unravelling rapidly.

With goalkeeper Manuel Almunia wearing the captain's armband in place of Gallas, who was left behind in London by manager Arsene Wenger for his controversial comments, Arsenal barely mounted a worthwhile attack all afternoon.

City went ahead in first-half stoppage time when a mistake by Gael Clichy gifted Ireland a goal after the City midfielder had burst into the area.

Robinho made it 2-0 early in the second half after a splendid pass from Shaun Wright-Phillips and Sturridge won and converted a late penalty to condemn Arsenal to a second consecutive defeat without scoring a goal.