Dimitar Berbatov fired Manchester United level on points with Manchester City as his hat-trick inspired a 5-0 win over 10-man Wigan, while the Premier League leaders were held to a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion yesterday.
Berbatov has been a bit-part player for long periods this season but the Bulgarian striker seized a chance to replace the rested Wayne Rooney with a clinical treble and further goals from Park Ji-Sung and Antonio Valencia destroyed third bottom Wigan.
United’s five-goal spree – their second in six days after a 5-0 win over Fulham – means City are now top only on goal difference after Roberto Mancini’s side suffered a rare setback at the Hawthorns.
City, who were five points clear of United earlier this month, enjoyed most of the possession, but couldn’t find a way past Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster with Mario Balotelli hitting the woodwork and also having a goal disallowed.
At Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson played midfielders Valencia and Michael Carrick in defence, but Park put the hosts ahead in the eighth minute when the South Korea midfielder converted Patrice Evra’s cross.
United got another boost when Wigan striker Conor Sammon was dismissed for an elbow on Carrick six minutes before half-time.
The champions took full advantage as Berbatov increased their lead with a clinical finish in the 41st minute.
Berbatov added his third goal in two games with another cool strike from Valencia’s pass in the 58th minute.
Former Wigan star Valencia struck in the 75th minute and Berbatov completed his treble from the penalty spot three minutes later after Park was tripped by Antolin Alcara.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s title hopes suffered another major blow as Clint Dempsey’s equaliser gave Fulham a 1-1 draw against their west London neighbours.
A third successive draw means even a place in the top four can’t be taken for granted as Chelsea will slip to fifth if Arsenal beat Wolves today.
Andre Villas-Boas’s spluttering side took the lead two minutes into the second period when Spanish playmaker Juan Mata drilled his shot past David Stockdale.
But Martin Jol’s side punished sloppy Chelsea defending to equalise in the 56th minute as American midfielder Dempsey tapped in a Bryan Ruiz cross.
“The title will be pretty difficult now,” Villas-Boas admitted.
“It would have been a good December for us if we’d finished with six points from two home games, but taking this draw into account it makes it difficult now. You have to be realistic.”
Liverpool’s challenge for a Champions League place was dented as Blackburn earned a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Rovers, beaten in their previous three matches, took the lead in first half stoppage time when Reds midfielder Charlie Adam deflected Morten Gamst Pedersen’s corner into his own net.
Maxi Rodriguez equalised with a header from Martin Skrtel’s flick in the 53rd minute and Reds boss Kenny Dalglish sent on England midfielder Steven Gerrard, finally back from an ankle injury, for the final 20 minutes.
But Liverpool have now won just one of their last six home league games after Rovers goalkeeper Mark Bunn made a series of fine saves to give boss Steve Kean some breathing space.
Newcastle win
Newcastle surged back into the race for a top-four place with a 2-0 win at struggling Bolton.
Alan Pardew’s side had failed to win any of their previous six matches but they got back on track to move within four points of fourth-placed Chelsea thanks to second half goals from Hatem Ben Arfa and Demba Ba.
Bolton remain second bottom after their sixth defeat in seven matches.
Sunderland’s revival under new boss Martin O’Neill was hit by a controversial 1-1 draw against Everton at the Stadium of Light.
O’Neill’s side, who had won two of their three matches since the former Aston Villa boss took charge, went ahead through Jack Colback’s deflected shot in the 26th minute.
However, Everton earned a controversial equaliser in the 51st minute when referee Howard Webb awarded a penalty after Leon Osman stumbled while shooting under no challenge and Leighton Baines blasted in the spot-kick.
Results and standings
Premier League
Bolton 0
Newcastle 2
Ben Arfa 69; Ba 71;
HT: 0-0 Att: 26,080.
Chelsea 1
Mata 47;
Fulham 1
Dempsey 56;
HT: 0-0. Att: 41,548.
Liverpool 1
Maxi 53;
Blackburn 1
Adam 45 og;
HT: 0-1. Att: 44,441.
Man. United 5
Park 8; Berbatov 41, 58; Berbatov 78 pen; Valencia 75;
Wigan 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 75,183.
Red card: Sammon (W) 39.
Stoke 0
Aston Villa 0
Att: 27,739.
Sunderland 1
Colback 26;
Everton 1
Baines 51 pen;
HT: 1-0 Att: 43,619.
West Brom 0
Man. City 0
Att: 25,938.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Man. City | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 53 | 15 | 45 |
| Man. United | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 47 | 14 | 45 |
| Tottenham | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 19 | 35 |
| Chelsea | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 21 | 34 |
| Arsenal | 17 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 33 | 25 | 32 |
| Liverpool | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 14 | 31 |
| Newcastle | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 25 | 22 | 30 |
| Stoke City | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 28 | 25 |
| West Brom | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 26 | 22 |
| Everton | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 20 | 21 |
| Norwich | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 31 | 21 |
| Aston Villa | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 19 | 23 | 20 |
| Fulham | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 24 | 19 |
| Sunderland | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 22 | 18 |
| Swansea | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
| QPR | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 31 | 16 |
| Wolves | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 19 | 32 | 15 |
| Wigan | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 35 | 14 |
| Bolton | 18 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 22 | 41 | 12 |
| Blackburn | 18 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 39 | 11 |
Playing today
Arsenal vs Wolves - 16.00
Swansea vs QPR - 18.00
Norwich vs Tottenham - 20.30
Top scorers
16 goals: Van Persie (Arsenal).
13 goals: Aguero (Man. City), Ba (Newcastle), Rooney (Man. United).
10 goals: Dzeko (Man. City), Yakubu (Blackburn).
Next fixtures
Friday: 20.45 Liverpool vs Newcastle.
Saturday: 13.45 Manchester United vs Blackburn Rovers. 16.00 Arsenal vs QPR; Bolton Wanderers vs Wolves; Chelsea vs Aston Villa; Norwich vs Fulham; Stoke vs Wigan; Swansea vs Tottenham.
Sunday: 13.30 West Brom vs Everton. 16.00 Sunderland vs Manchester City.
The Championship
Barnsley 1 - Blackpool 3
Birmingham 1 - West Ham 1
Burnley 3 - Doncaster 0
Coventry 1 - Bristol C. 0
Derby 1 - Leeds United 0
Leicester 1 - Ipswich 1
M’Boro 1 - Hull 0
Millwall 1 - Portsmouth 0
N. Forest 0 - Peterborough 1
Reading 3 - Brighton 0
Southampton 2 - C. Palace 0
Watford 1 - Cardiff 1
Standings: Southampton 47; M’Boro, West Ham 44; Cardiff, Hull 39; Reading 36; Blackpool, Leeds 35; Burnley, C. Palace 33; Brighton 32; Leicester, Peterborough, Derby 31; Barnsley, Birmingham 30; Portsmouth, Watford, Ipswich 27; Millwall 26; Bristol City, N. Forest 21; Doncaster 19; Coventry 16.
League One
Brentford 1 - Bournemouth 1
Colchester 1 - Stevenage 6
Huddersfield 1 - Chesterfield 0
L. Orient 0 - MK Dons 3
Oldham 0 - Hartlepool 1
Preston 3 - Carlisle 3
Scunthorpe 1 - Bury 3
Tranmere p - Rochdale p
Walsall 2 - Sheff. Wed. 1
Wycombe 3 - Exeter 1
Yeovil 2 - Charlton 3
Playing today
Sheff. Utd vs Notts County - 15.15
Standings: Charlton 51; Sheffield Wed. 43; MK Dons, Huddersfield 42; Sheffield United 41; Stevenage 35; Brentford, Carlisle 34; Notts County, Preston, Bury 31; Hartlepool, Colchester 29; Oldham, Bournemouth 27; Tranmere 26; Leyton Orient 25; Walsall, Exeter 21; Wycombe, Yeovil 20; Scunthorpe 19; Rochdale 18; Chesterfield 14.
League Two
Aldershot 0 - Southend 1 (abandoned due to light failure)
Bradford 3 - Crewe 0
Bristol R. 2 - Plymouth 3
Cheltenham 0 - Shrewsbury 0
Crawley 1 - Gillingham 2
Dagenham 3 - Barnet 0
Hereford 1 - Port Vale 2
Macclesfield 0 - Rotherham 0
Morecambe 1 - Accrington 2
Northampton 2 - Burton 3
Torquay 1 - Swindon 0
Wimbledon 0 - Oxford 2
Standings: Crawley 46; Cheltenham 43; Southend 42; Shrewsbury 41; Burton Albion 39; Gillingham 38; Swindon 37; Oxford 36; Port Vale 35; Torquay, Rotherham 34; Accrington 32; Morecambe 31; Macclesfield, Crewe 27; Aldershot, Wimbledon 26; Bristol Rovers 23; Bradford 22; Barnet 20; Hereford 18; Dagenham, Northampton, Plymouth 17.