Tottenham Hotspur survived a strong Everton fightback to secure a 2-1 home win while Fernando Torres scored on his first start in six weeks as Liverpool beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 yesterday.

Coming after Manchester City's shock 4-2 win at Chelsea on Saturday, the results kept things tight in the battle for fourth place.

Spurs reclaimed fourth on 49 points, above City on goal difference. Liverpool remain sixth on 48 with Aston Villa seventh on 45.

Tottenham produced a dominant first-half display at White Hart Lane and led 2-0 at the break.

Roman Pavlyuchenko, who had scored twice in each of his last two games, opened the scoring after 11 minutes and Luka Modric got the second after 28 with a brilliant chip.

The game changed five minutes into the second half though when Tottenham lost impressive midfielder Tom Huddlestone and Everton began to take command.

They pulled a goal back after 55 minutes when Aiyegbeni Yakubu cashed in on an error by Heurelho Gomes - the first Spurs had conceded at home in six league games - but the Spurs keeper made amends with good saves to deny Jack Rodwell and Steven Pienaar.

Everton, who came from 2-0 down at home to draw 2-2 with Spurs at Goodison Park in December, should have done the same 12 minutes from time when substitute Landon Donovan missed a sitter.

Steven Gerrard put Liverpool ahead after 20 minutes but Blackburn levelled with a Keith Andrews penalty following a Jamie Carragher handball.

Torres restored the lead a minute before half-time with a simple finish after goalkeeper Paul Robinson needlessly left his goal unguarded as he tried to close down Maxi Rodriguez wide on the right.

Liverpool struggled to put much together in the second half. In stoppage time Blackburn's Christopher Samba had a header well saved by Jose Reina.

The day's other match between Sunderland and Fulham was goalless.