
Premier League Weekend Review
Manchester United closed the gap on Chelsea to two points, while Spurs blew a great chance to overtake Arsenal.
Tottenham threw away a glorious chance to move back to third in the Premier League table after blowing a two-goal lead and then missing an injury-time penalty to draw 2-2 at Everton.
Jermain Defoe opened the scoring just after the break and the points appeared safe when Michael Dawson doubled the lead on the hour.
But goals from Louis Saha and Tim Cahill levelled the scores before Defoe's weak spot-kick was saved by Tim Howard after Tony Hibbert had brought down Wilson Palacios.
Fulham striker Bobby Zamora fired his club back into the top half of the table with a 1-0 win over Sunderland then taunted his critics with his celebration at Craven Cottage.
The 28-year-old struck early on against Steve Bruce's men then pushed team-mate Damien Duff out of the way to finish off his gesture, which appeared to be aimed at home fans.
While Zamora's work-rate is appreciated by boss Roy Hodgson, his goal against Sunderland was only his 10th in two seasons since arriving from West Ham.
It means Fulham leapfrog over Sunderland into eighth, with their form reliant on home performances: they have not lost on their own turf since September.
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City ended a run of seven successive league draws by coming from behind to triumph 2-1 over Chelsea, with Shay Given's penalty save from Frank Lampard proving decisive.
The visitors took an eighth minute lead after Given saved from Nicolas Anelka, but the ball diverted into the net off Emmanuel Adebayor's back.
Togo striker Adebayor levelled seven minutes before the interval before Carlos Tevez's free-kick put City in front for the first time.
However, that was not the end of the action as Lampard stepped up after Didier Drogba was fouled by Nedum Onuoha, only to see his penalty blocked by Given as Chelsea suffered a third loss of the season.
Manchester United had earlier kept the pressure on at the top of the standings as West Ham capitulated at Upton Park.
The teams were well matched for the majority of the first half until Paul Scholes lashed home his 99th Premier League goal.
The Red Devils were much more impressive in the second period, with Darron Gibson producing an even better strike to make it two after 61 minutes, smashing high into the net for his third goal in a week.
Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney then scored the third and fourth within seconds of each other from tap-ins as United poured forward.
Third-placed Arsenal collected a 2-0 win over Stoke at the Emirates Stadium but should have made it easier on themselves after a missed penalty and a bizarre goalline block kept the visitors interested.
Cesc Fabregas first spurned a 20th-minute spot-kick after Andrey Arshavin was felled by Rory Delap.
The Spaniard helped make amends six minutes later, teeing up Arshavin, who produced a neat finish across goal for the opener.
Fabregas almost had one of his own seconds later but amazingly saw team-mate Emmanuel Eboue block it on the Stoke line. Aaron Ramsey put the game beyond doubt in the 79th minute.
Steven Gerrard was unable to inspire Liverpool in his 500th match for the club, with a goalless draw at Blackburn not good enough to turn around their faltering season.
David Ngog missed a glorious chance following fine work from Glen Johnson, hitting the crossbar from four yards with the goal gaping.
Struggling Wolves held on for a vital 2-1 win over Bolton at Molineux for a third success of the season.
Veteran Jody Craddock turned home Christophe Berra's header from six yards for the opener before a sensational hit from Nenad Milijas made it 2-0 after 63 minutes.
Johan Elmander got the consolation for Bolton.
Aston Villa enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Hull. Richard Dunne powered home expertly to break the deadlock before James Milner caught Matt Duke out of position and John Carew converted a late penalty.
Birmingham came from a goal behind at the DW Stadium to record a 3-2 victory.
Charles N'Zogbia put the Latics ahead before two goals from Sebastian Larsson either side of Christian Benitez's 66th-minute effort sealed the points.
Jordi Gomez made it 3-2 a minute from time.
In the day's early kick-off, Avram Grant recorded a first win since taking over as Portsmouth boss as his side saw off Burnley 2-0 at Fratton Park.
The points came courtesy of second-half goals from Hermann Hreidarsson and Aruna Dindane after the latter had missed a soft penalty in the first period.
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