Manchester City seized the chance to put Premier League leaders Manchester United under pressure with David Silva’s double in a 2-0 win over Fulham yesterday while Liverpool enjoyed a 5-0 romp against Norwich City.
United face a tricky trip to fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur today with their advantage at the top whittled down to four points after Spain midfielder Silva struck in the second and 69th minutes for hosts and champions City.
Jordan Henderson, long seen as a major flop, scored a rare goal in seventh-placed Liverpool’s home thrashing of Norwich when his thunderous shot on the turn from the edge of the area flew into the corner of the net after 26 minutes.
The goal was only his fourth since signing from Sunderland in 2011 for 16 million pounds but it was worth the wait for the fans, who also saw an outrageous dummy from new striker Daniel Sturridge set up Luis Suarez for the second.
Sturridge then made it three goals in three games since joining from Chelsea when he converted a cross from another Liverpool misfit Stewart Downing in the second half.
Captain Steven Gerrard added a fourth from distance and Ryan Bennett’s own goal made it five as Brendan Rodgers’ side showed real signs of promise after a fitful season so far.
There was also a landmark early strike for Queens Park Rangers debutant Loic Remy, who coolly netted in a 1-1 draw at London rivals West Ham United which left Harry Redknapp’s side four points adrift at the bottom.
Former Chelsea and Liverpool winger Joe Cole grabbed the 68th-minute equaliser on the rebound for his first goal since rejoining the Hammers.
Reading temporarily jumped out of the relegation zone with another comeback after substitute Adam Le Fondre’s brace in 2-1 away win that left 16th-placed Newcastle United reeling after France midfielder Yohan Cabaye’s free-kick gave the hosts the lead.
Wigan Athletic fell into the bottom three following a 3-2 home defeat by resurgent Sunderland and are level on points with Reading as Aston Villa earned a precious 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion in the late kick-off to move outside the drop zone.
In mid-table, Swansea City shone again as Jonathan de Guzman scored twice in a 3-1 home win over Stoke City, who have conceded 10 in three matches in the league this month but at least saw a first club goal for substitute Michael Owen late on.
Third-placed Chelsea host fellow Londoners Arsenal this afternoon knowing the gap to City in second is now nine points following the Manchester side’s simple victory over faltering Fulham.
Silva, less inspired this season than last especially in front of goal, found his scoring boots early on when he confidently slotted home after Edin Dzeko’s effort was parried.
The Spaniard dinked in his second after a clever backheel from Carlos Tevez and shortly afterwards was clean through but spurned the chance of a third.
Fulham, who barely threatened, have been on the slide with two wins in 15 league games and are now six points above the red zone.
Heavy snow across England and Wales led to many games in the lower divisions being postponed but the top flight was unaffected by the weather.
Southampton and new Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino welcome fifth-placed Everton tomorrow.
Results and standings
Premier League
Liverpool 5
Henderson 26; Suarez 37; Sturridge 59; Gerrard 66; Bennett 74 og;
Norwich City 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 44,901.
Man. City 2
Silva 2, 69;
Fulham 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 47,286.
Newcastle 1
Cabaye 36;
Reading 2
Le Fondre 71, 78;
HT: 1-0. Att: 49,411.
Swansea City 3
Davies 49; De Guzman 57, 80;
Stoke City 1
Owen 90;
HT: 0-0. Att: 19,603.
West Brom 2
Brunt 49; Odemwingie 83;
Aston Villa 2
Benteke 12; Agbonlahor 31;
HT: 0-2. Att: 25,583.
West Ham 1
J. Cole 68;
QPR 1
Remy 14;
HT: 0-1. Att: 34,962.
Wigan 2
Vaughan 5 og; Henriquez 79;
Sunderland 3
Gardner 17 pen; Fletcher 20, 42;
HT: 1-3. Att: 19,219.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Man. United | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 56 | 29 | 55 |
| Man. City | 23 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 45 | 19 | 51 |
| Chelsea | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 45 | 21 | 42 |
| Tottenham | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 39 | 27 | 40 |
| Everton | 22 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 35 | 26 | 37 |
| Arsenal | 21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 40 | 24 | 34 |
| Liverpool | 23 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 40 | 28 | 34 |
| West Brom | 23 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 33 | 32 | 34 |
| Swansea | 23 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 34 | 27 | 33 |
| Stoke City | 23 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 22 | 27 | 29 |
| Sunderland | 23 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 27 | 31 | 28 |
| West Ham | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 28 | 27 |
| Norwich | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 39 | 26 |
| Fulham | 23 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 33 | 40 | 25 |
| Southampton | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 30 | 40 | 22 |
| Newcastle | 23 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 28 | 41 | 21 |
| Aston Villa | 23 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 44 | 20 |
| Reading | 23 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 43 | 19 |
| Wigan | 23 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 25 | 43 | 19 |
| QPR | 23 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 19 | 37 | 15 |
Playing today
Chelsea vs Arsenal - 14:30
Tottenham vs Man. United - 17:00
Tomorrow
Southampton vs Everton - 21.00
Top scorers
17 goals: Van Persie (Man. United).
16 goals: Suarez (Liverpool).
14 goals: Ba (Chelsea).
13 goals: Michu (Swansea).
Next fixtures
Tuesday: League Cup semi-final, second leg – 20.45 Aston Villa vs Bradford City.
Wednesday: Premier League – 20.45 Arsenal vs West Ham. League One semi-final, second leg – 20.45 Swansea vs Chelsea.
Friday: FA Cup fourth round – 20.45 Millwall vs Aston Villa.
Saturday: FA Cup fourth round – 13.45 Stoke vs Manchester City; 16.00 Bolton vs Everton; Brighton vs Arsenal; Derby vs Blackburn; Huddersfield vs Leicester; Hull vs Barnsley; Macclesfield vs Wigan; M’Boro vs Aldershot; Norwich vs Luton; QPR vs MK Dons; Reading vs Sheffield Utd. 18.30 Man. United vs Fulham.
Sunday: FA Cup fourth round – 13.00 Brentford vs Chelsea; 15.00 Leeds vs Tottenham; 17.00 Oldham vs Liverpool.
The Championship
Birmingham 2 - Brighton 2
Blackburn 1 - Charlton 2
Blackpool 1 - Cardiff 2
Crystal Palace 0 - Bolton 0
Derby 1 - Nottm Forest 1
Ipswich 1 - Barnsley 1
Leeds United 1 - Bristol City 0
Millwall 0 - Burnley 2
Peterborough 1 - Hull City 1
Sheffield Wed. 0 - Wolves 0
Watford 4 - Huddersfield 0
Standings: Cardiff 60; Leicester, Hull 50; C. Palace 48; M’boro 47; Watford 46; Burnley 42; Brighton, Millwall, N. Forest, Leeds 41; Charlton 39; Derby 38; Blackburn 36; Blackpool, Bolton 34; Wolves, H’sfield 33; Ipswich 32; B’gham 31; Sheff. Wed. 29; Peterboro 26; Barnsley 25; Bristol City 22.
League One
Brentford 1 - Tranmere 2
Coventry 2 - Oldham 1
Doncaster 2 - L. Orient 0
Notts County 1 - Sheffield Utd 1
Swindon 2 - Shrewsbury 0
Walsall 3 - Bournemouth 1
Standings: Tranmere Rovers, Don-caster Rovers 56; Swindon Town, Brentford 49; Sheffield United 48; MK Dons, Coventry City, Bournemouth 43; Yeovil 42; Walsall, Crawley 41; Crewe, Stevenage 40; Notts County 37; Leyton Orient 35; Preston 34; Carlisle 32; Shrewsbury 30; Oldham Athletic 27; Scunthorpe 25; Colchester 23; Bury 22; Portsmouth 21; Hartlepool 13.
League Two
Northampton 1 - Burton 0
Wycombe 1 - Dagenham 0
York 0 - Aldershot 0
Standings: Port Vale 52; Gillingham 51; Exeter 45; Cheltenham 44; Rother-ham 43; Northampton, Burton 42; Southend, Fleetwood, Bradford 40; Chesterfield 39; Oxford 38; Dagenham 37; Rochdale, York, Wycombe 36; Torquay 34; Morecambe 33; Accrington 30; Barnet, Aldershot 29; Plymouth 27; Wimbledon 26; Bristol Rovers 25.