The race for Premier League places in next season's Europa League warmed up on Sunday when Aston Villa and Everton fought out a thrilling 3-3 draw and Fulham came from behind to win 3-1 at Manchester City.
Manchester City's fingertip hold on their Premier League title was further loosened when a 2-0 loss at Everton followed by runaway leaders Manchester United's 1-0 win over Reading left them praying for a football miracle.
Manchester City went top of the Premier League, at least until Manchester United play at Stoke City later on Saturday, when they beat Everton 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium with goals from second-half substitutes Mario Balotelli and James Milner.
Manchester City's Argentina striker Carlos Tevez scored a hat-trick two days after he was arrested as they cruised past Barnsley 5-0 to join history makers Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
Everton can take a huge step towards an unlikely top-four finish and Champions League soccer next season if they can maintain their recent run of great form by winning at Arsenal for the first time in 17 years on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Frank Lampard underlined his value to Chelsea with a well-taken double that secured a 2-1 comeback win at Everton on Sunday to move the Londoners back up to third place in the Premier League.
Everton ended third-tier Oldham Athletic's giantkilling FA Cup run with a 3-1 victory in their fifth round replay on Tuesday to tee up an all Premier League quarter-final against Wigan Athletic.
IMAGES from the Premier League match played between Liverpool and Luton at Anfield on Wednesday
IMAGES from Premier League matches played on Saturday.
On-loan Bolton Wanderers striker Daniel Sturridge scored his third goal in three games to wrap up a 2-0 victory over Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.
Arsenal's victory ended a run of three successive defeats in all competitions and put them level on 43 points with Aston Villa and champions Manchester City. Arsenal's goal difference is superior to Villa's but worse than City's.
Striker Wayne Rooney was included in Manchester United's squad to play at Everton on Saturday after more than a month out with a broken bone in his foot.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday.
Tottenham Hotspur scored three late goals to beat Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday and set up an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, after replaying the game that was abandoned when midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch.
Everton get the chance to put a large dent in Manchester United's title hopes when they face the Premier League's injury-hit leaders at Goodison Park on Saturday.
A summary of Saturday's action in the Premier League.
Liverpool, beaten by Arsenal on Sunday, lead the table on 51 points from 23 games but City are up to 49 from 22 and Arsenal on 49 from 23.
Manchester United wasted a glorious chance to catch Chelsea at the top of the Premier League when they lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa on Saturday. Earlier leaders Chelsea were held 3-3 at home by Everton despite two goals from Didier Drogba.
Manchester United have lost 11 of their 27 league matches this campaign, two more than all of last season. The two previous seasons with 12 league losses (2013-14 and 2021-22) led to managerial changes.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Tuesday.
Images from the Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Gerrard's side turned their fortunes around at the expense of the visitors under Lampard
Steven Gerrard scored two penalties as Liverpool went back to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win at West Ham United to complete a Merseyside win-double over London clubs on Sunday.
The England striker's transfer value soared to 50 million pounds following his Euro 2004 performances.
A summary of Saturday's matches in the English Premier League.
Sunny Singh Gill was standing at the proverbial career crossroads one year ago. He had the option to continue as a prison officer or concentrate on carrying forward his family's rich footballing legacy by chasing his refereeing dream.
New Everton boss Sean Dyche's reign began with a shock 1-0 victory over English Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Everton scored twice in stoppage time to snatch an unlikely 3-3 home Premier League draw with Manchester United on Saturday in a game that Wayne Rooney missed to spare him from potential crowd abuse.
Chelsea beat Newcastle United 2-0 for a 10th successive Premier League home win at their Stamford Bridge stronghold on Saturday to reassert themselves as Premier League leaders while champions Manchester City drew at Everton.
Tottenham Hotspur continued their Premier League title push with a 2-0 win over Everton on Wednesday to put them level on points with second-placed champions Manchester United and three behind leaders Manchester City.
'Not in the dressing room. Of course there are a lot of rumours but it is not that we get distracted by it.'
Manchester City went top of the Premier League, at least until Manchester United play at Stoke City later on Saturday, when they beat Everton 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium with goals from second-half substitutes Mario Balotelli and James Milner.
Championship (second tier) side Rotherham, who haven't made it through to the fourth round of the competition since 2001-02, kept their composure early on as Fulham controlled the play.
"In this period, everyone's thinking of New Year's Eve, the distraction can be a problem. Two days after Leeds, we have to be ready."
Manchester City returned to the Premier League summit for the first time since January with a 3-2 win at Everton on Saturday that left them six points from a second title in three seasons.
Images from Saturday's action in the English Premier League.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Arsenal sent Liverpool crashing out of the FA Cup, avenging last weekend's rout at Anfield, when they beat Brendan Rodgers's high-flyers 2-1 in a full-bloodied fifth round tie at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
