Manchester United remained six points clear at the top of the Premier League as Javier Hernandez’s late goal clinched a 1-0 win over Everton, while Fernando Torres broke his Chelsea duck in a 3-0 victory against West Ham last night.
Alex Ferguson’s side found it tough to break down a resolute Everton defence and looked in danger of dropping two points at Old Trafford, but Mexican striker Hernandez ended the stalemate with a close-range header seven minutes from full-time.
Second-placed Chelsea resp-onded in the day’s late match but, with just four games to play, Ferguson is confident his side can end the title race by beating Arsenal, who travel to Bolton today, and Chelsea in their next two matches.
“The thing that puzzles me is people keep saying Arsenal and Chelsea have got to play us still, like we’re going to lose to them... why shouldn’t we win those games?” he said.
“There are only four games left and the way the players are going about their business gives them an outstanding chance of success.”
Everton felt aggrieved that referee Peter Walton didn’t give a penalty early in the second half when Rio Ferdinand tugged back Victor Anichebe.
But United finally made the breakthrough in the 83rd minute when Antonio Valencia’s cross to the far post was headed in by Hernandez from virtually on the goal-line.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea secured their seventh win in eight league matches to stay in touch with United and leave West Ham bottom of the table.
Former West Ham midfielder Lampard put Carlo Ancelotti’s side ahead in the 44th minute when he lashed in Ashley Cole’s cross.
Torres came off the bench to score impressively in the 84th minute – his first goal in 13 matches since his British record £50 million transfer from Liverpool - while Florent Malouda netted in stoppage time.
Tottenham wasted a chance to leapfrog fourth-placed Manchester City as West Bromwich Albion secured a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane.
Albion took the lead in the fifth minute through Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie.
Roman Pavlyuchenko equalised in the 27th minute and Jermain Defoe hit his 100th Premier League goal in the 66th minute to put Spurs ahead.
But Simon Cox equalised for Albion in the 81st minute and Spurs are now one point behind City, who travel to Blackburn tomorrow.
Liverpool’s resurgence under Kenny Dalglish continued as Maxi Rodriguez’s hat-trick inspired a 5-0 win against Birmingham at Anfield.
Dalglish’s sixth-placed team took just seven minutes to open the scoring through Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt increased Liverpool’s advantage in the 23rd minute.
Rodriguez got his second goal in the 66th minute and the Argentina midfielder completed his treble in the 73rd minute before Joe Cole struck in the 86th minute.
Blackpool climbed out of the bottom three with a 1-1 draw against Newcastle at Bloomfield Road.
Peter Lovenkrands fired Newcastle into a 17th-minute lead but DJ Campbell headed the 32nd minute equaliser and Blackpool are now ahead of third bottom Wigan on goal difference.
Sunderland eased their relegation fears with a 4-2 victory over Wigan at the Stadium of Light.
Steve Bruce’s side had lost eight of their last nine games and they were heading for another defeat when Mohamed Diame put Wigan ahead in the 52nd minute.
But Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan equalised three minutes later and Jordan Henderson netted in the 66th minute.
Stephane Sessegnon scored a 73rd-minute penalty and Henderson struck again four minutes later before Franco Di Santo got one back for Wigan.
Second bottom Wolves’ hopes of avoiding relegation were dented as Fulham drew 1-1 at Molineux.
Steven Fletcher scored with a tremendous header from Karl Henry’s cross in the 22nd minute to put Wolves in front.
But Andrew Johnson levelled in the 80th minute after Fulham boss Mark Hughes was sent to the stands for protesting against a booking for Brede Hangeland.
Aston Villa couldn’t give ill boss Gerard Houllier, who has been hospitalised with chest pains, a much-needed tonic as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke.
Kenwyne Jones scored for Stoke but Darren Bent equalised in 43rd minute.
Results and standings
Premier League
Aston Villa 1
Bent 43;
Stoke City 1
Jones 20;
HT: 1-1. Att: 35,235.
Blackpool 1
Campbell 32;
Newcastle 1
Lovenkrands 17;
HT: 1-1. Att: 16,003.
Chelsea 3
Lampard 44; Torres 84; Malouda 90;
West Ham 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 41,656.
Liverpool 5
Maxi 7, 66, 73; Kuyt 23; Cole 86;
Birmingham 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 44,734.
Man. United 1
Hernandez 83;
Everton 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 75,300.
Sunderland 4
Gyan 55; Henderson 66, 77; Sessegnon 73 pen;
Wigan 2
Diame 52; Di Santo 90;
HT: 0-0. Att: 39,650.
Tottenham 2
Pavlyuchenko 27; Defoe 66;
West Brom 2
Odemwingie 5; Cox 81;
HT: 1-1. Att: 36,160.
Wolves 1
Fletcher 22;
Fulham 1
Johnson 80;
HT: 1-0. Att: 28,825.
Today
Bolton-Arsenal 17:00
Tomorrow
Blackburn-Man City21:00
Leading scorers
21 goals: Berbatov (Man. United)
19 goals: Tevez (Man. City)
15 goals: Bent (Aston Villa)
14 goals: Van Persie (Arsenal)
Next fixtures
Tuesday: Premier League 20.45 Stoke vs Wolves.
Wednesday: Premier League 21.00 Fulham vs Bolton Wanderers.
Saturday: Premier League 16.00 Blackburn vs Bolton; Blackpool vs Stoke; Sunderland vs Fulham; West Brom vs Aston Villa; Wigan vs Everton. 18.30 Chelsea vs Tottenham.
Sunday, May 1: Premier League 1 p.m. Birmingham vs Wolves; Liverpool vs Newcastle; 3.05 p.m. Arsenal vs Manchester United; 5.10 p.m. Manchester City vs West Ham.
The Championship
Cardiff 2 - QPR 2
Derby 2 - Burnley 4
Hull 2 - Middlesbrough 4
Millwall 4 - Preston0Portsmouth0Swansea 0
Sheffield Utd 3 - Bristol City 2
Watford 1 - Barnsley 0
Leading standings: QPR 84; Norwich 77; Cardiff 76; Reading 73; Swansea 71; Nottm Forest, Leeds, Burnley 66; Millwall 64; Hull 63; Watford, Leicester 60.
League One
Brighton 1 - Southampton 2
Bristol Rovers 2 - Charlton 2
Rochdale 2 - Carlisle 3
Swindon 1 - Notts County 2
Walsall 1 - Sheffield Wed. 1
Yeovil 2 - Bournemouth 2
Leading standings: Brighton 93; South-ampton, Huddersfield 80; Peterborough 74; MK Dons 71; Bournemouth 67.
League Two
Accrington 3 - Bradford 0
Aldershot 1 - Burton 2
Cheltenham 0 - Macclesfield 1
Hereford 0 - Shrewsbury2
Gillingham 2 - Barnet 4
Oxford 0 - Chesterfield 0
Port Vale 1 - Stockport 2
Leading standings: Chesterfield 82; Bury 77; Shrewsbury 72; Wycombe 71; Accrington 68; Torquay (-1) 66; Stevenage, Gillingham 65.