After winning 5-0 against Blackburn on Saturday, the Blues saw Liverpool end a four-match losing streak Sunday with a 2-0 win at home to Manchester United, a defeat that saw the second-placed champions fail to regain top spot and left Chelsea two points clear at the top.
Arsenal then missed the chance to close the gap on Chelsea to three points when, having gone 2-0 up against second-bottom West Ham, they saw the home side come back to force a 2-2 draw at Upton Park in a match where the Hammers finished a man down after Scott Parker was sent-off.
Manchester City, who could have gone fourth, squandered a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham while, in Sunday´s other match, Bolton pulled further clear of the relegation zone with a 3-2 win over Everton at the Reebok Stadium.
Spain striker Fernado Torres, played in by Yossi Benayoun, put Liverpool ahead when he shot high past United keeper Edwin van der Sar in the 65th minute before, five minutes into added on time, David Ngog kept his cool to seal victory.
The Gunners went ahead when West Ham and England goalkeeper Robert Green made a mess of Bacary Sagna´s cross, allowing Robin van Persie to shoot into the unguarded net.
Van Persie then turned provider, Willaim Gallas heading in from the Dutch international´s corner in the 37th minute.
But, with 16 minutes left, Arsenal keeper Vito Mannone could only parry Alessandro Diamanti´s free-kick and Carlton Cole´s follow-up header gave the Hammers hope.
And, 10 minutes from time, they were level when, after Alex Song brought down Cole, Diamanti equalised from the penalty spot.
It was a draw that was bound to raise fresh questions about whether Arsenal were too "soft" to win the title.
At Anfield, both teams at Anfield finished a man down after United defender Nemanja Vidic and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano were sent-off after collecting two yellow cards apiece.
"The mentality was good, everyone was working together, plus the ´keeper (Jose Reina) to the last fan on the Kop," Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez told Sky Sports.
"The players answered a lot of questions, that is the most important thing," the Spaniard, who´d received a public vote of confidence from Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow before kick-off, added.
Victory ended Liverpool´s worst run for 22 years and saw them close the gap on Chelsea to six points.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, whose team have now lost their last three league encounters against Liverpool, admitted: "All in all, Liverpool were the better team," Ferguson said. "They deserved their victory."
Ferguson promised United would bounce back, saying: "At some points of your season you are going to have disappointments. Last year we lost 4-1 at home to Liverpool, got hold of the bit again and won the league. That´s our challenge."
For Ferguson´s longtime rival Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, there was fresh frustration in a match where the Gunners had been in complete command.
"It´s disappointing," the Frenchman said. "We couldn´t get that third goal to finish it off even though we had plenty of opportunities."
Second-half goals from Joleon Lescott and Martin Petrov put Manchester City in front before impressive finishes from Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey helped visitors Fulham gain a point.
Ivan Klasnic´s first Bolton goal sealed victory for the Trotters, who moved up five places into 12th spot.
Bolton went 2-0 ahead through Lee Chung-Yong and Gary Cahill before Louis Saha and Marouane Fellaini drew Everton level only for Klasnic to deny the Toffees a draw.
SPANISH LA LIGA: Classy Barcelona hit Zaragoza for six
Mali international Seydou Keita scored a first ever hat-trick as champions Barcelona got back to their best, crushing Real Zaragoza 6-1 at Camp Nou on Sunday to move three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table.
Barca had experienced a blip with a Champions League home defeat to Rubin Kazan in midweek but responded with a football masterclass to punish Real´s 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijon on Saturday.
Keita scored a memorable hat-trick (24 min, 41, 86) to take his season´s tally to five while Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice and also had two goals ruled out for offside.
"Doubts? I don´t think we had any doubts to be honest," said Keita. "We showed today that we are a great team and go out to win.
"On a personal level I am happy with my first hat-trick although I am not really a goal-scorer."
Ibrahimovic joins Valencia´s David Villa at the top of the scoring charts on seven goals while Lionel Messi has six goals after scoring a fine chip.
Barca were three goals up after a destructive first half but that was not enough as they tore Zaragoza to shreds in the second half and it could have been double figures.
On 24 minutes Barca made the breakthrough with Messi showing quick thinking from a corner to clip a ball in and Keita got in front of his man to score with a diving header.
Five minutes later Ibrahimovic thundered in a ferocious free-kick from 25 yards although goalkeeper Juan Carrizo will be disappointed.
Barca scored a third on 41 minutes with Xavi producing a sublime pass to release Ibrahimovic and the Swede crossed for Keita to smash home his fourth goal of the season crashing into the back of the net as he did so.
In a spot of role reversal Keita turned provider for Ibrahimovic zipping in a low cross which the Swede deftly flicked in off his boot on 56 minutes.
Messi produced a cheeky chip in the 80th minute and Keita completed his hat-trick four minutes from time as Zaragoza prayed for the final whistle.
Earlier Spanish international Villa returned with a bang scoring his seventh goal of the season as Valencia defeated 10-man Almeria 3-0 on Sunday to move into the top four.
Villa missed the 0-0 draw with Barcelona due to a thigh injury but started against Almeria and headed in on 54 minutes before Pablo Hernandez scored a sensational 35 yard chip and Juan Mata completed the scoring.
Almeria´s cause was not helped by the dismissal of goalkeeper Diego Alves after an hour for fouling Pablo.
Valencia supplant Deportivo La Coruna in fourth on goal difference with Sevilla just a point ahead in third.
"This was an important game for and three points that could make the difference between Champions League football at the end of the season," said Valencia coach Unai Emery.
Depor saw a four-game winning run come to an end in emphatic fashion, crashing to a 4-0 defeat at Valladolid.
"Nobody in the dressing room is talking about the Champions League," insisted Depor coach Miguel Lotina.
Earlier Villarreal finally recorded their first win of the season with a first goal from Brazilian club record signing Nilmar and a free-kick from Spanish international Joan Capdevilla sealing a much-needed 2-1 home win over Malaga on Sunday.
"Perhaps we sat a bit too far back but the points were too important and we couldn´t slip up," said coach Ernesto Valverde. "It was our first win and you always hope a good run can start from here."
It was Valverde´s first league win since taking over in the summer and lifts the club off the foot of the table with Malaga replacing them.
Nilmar arrived at Villarreal with a big reputation and his 11-million-euro fee made him the most expensive player in the club´s history.
It had been a slow start for the Brazilian forward but in the 27th minute he got his first goal in Villarreal´s colours.
Malaga responded close to half-time through Albert Luque but Capdevila´s free-kick on 54 minutes restored Villarreal´s lead and for once they held on.
Related story
Arsenal go top, Vardy hat-trick lights up Leicester
