Ex-Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson did his old club a huge favour by scoring the winner for Everton in a 1-0 victory over Premier League leaders Manchester City, while United moved level on points at the top after beating Stoke City 2-0.
The Champions League has not been a distraction for Manchester City in the Premier League, manager Manuel Pellegrini said after his side's erratic performances continued in Tuesday's draw with struggling Newcastle United.
Gareth Barry scored five minutes from time to give Manchester City a 1-1 draw at Stoke City on Tuesday and lift Roberto Mancini's men above Liverpool into fourth place in the Premier League. City moved on to 45 points from 25 matches, one ahead of Liverpool who have played one game more.
Chelsea have signed Stoke City's Bosnian international goalkeeper Asmir Begovic on a four-year contract, the Premier League champions confirmed on Monday.
Leeds United were crowned champions of the second-tier Championship after third-placed Brentford lost 1-0 at Stoke City in their penultimate game of the season on Saturday.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
Hull City gatecrashed the Premier League's top four again on Sunday with a 1-0 home defeat of West Ham United.
Burnley beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Ewood Park in their East Lancashire derby but Premier League sides Southampton and Newcastle United crashed out of the English League Cup to Championship opposition in Wednesday's second-round games.
Manchester City face Stoke City in the FA Cup final at Wembley at 1400 GMT by which time the day's English Premier League games will be over and United, should they draw at Blackburn Rovers, will be celebrating their 19th title and 12th under manager Alex Ferguson.
The visitors went ahead through Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting but Pascal Gross equalised just before the break only for Kurt Zouma to head Stoke back in front moments later. Jose Izquierdo then levelled for Brighton on the hour to earn a deserved point.
Man City to face Spurs in League Cup
Manchester City survived some jitters to beat Championship (second division) Leicester City 4-2 in a lively FA Cup third round replay at Eastlands on Tuesday.
Carlos Tevez struck a superb double as Manchester City rose to third in the Premier League and closer to a guaranteed Champions League spot with a 3-0 win over FA Cup final opponents Stoke City on Tuesday.
Sunderland won their first match under new manager Paolo Di Canio, beating Newcastle United 3-0 in a thunderous Tyne-Wear derby to ease their Premier League relegation woes on Sunday.
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will miss Sunday's League Cup final against Birmingham City at Wembley with a hamstring injury, the club said on Thursday.
Manchester City produced a blistering first-half performance to win 4-1 at Sunderland in the League Cup third round on Tuesday, inflicting more misery on Dick Advocaat's struggling side.
Cesc Fabregas kept alive Chelsea's hopes of finishing in the top four with a quickfire goal in a 1-0 win at Swansea City which leaves the Welsh side facing a major fight to retain their Premier League status.
The Premier League's bottom two clubs met at Goodison Park and there was more woe for Everton as they bowed out on penalties to Southampton after a 1-1 draw.
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 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.
A night of wholesale team changes for the 11 Premier League sides in action produced one notable upset with top flight Stoke City losing 2-0 at second-tier Bristol City.
Arsenal shoved Chelsea off the top of the table but Leicester City's Jamie Vardy, with a dazzling hat-trick, was the man of the moment on Saturday as the struggling Premier League champions blew aside Manchester City 4-2.
Manchester City made sure of third place in the Premier League when they romped to a 5-0 win at Watford on Sunday to ensure a Champions League berth for next season.
Burnley's winning run against teams from London continued on Tuesday with a 2-0 defeat of Arsenal to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup. Kevin McDonald scored twice for the Championship (second division) side to see off an Arsenal team made up almost entirely of young reserves and end a 25-year wait to reach the semi-finals of a major competition.
Willian's late strike snatched a 1-0 home win for Chelsea over a stubborn Everton side to maintain lead.
Images from the English Premier League matches that were played on Wednesday.
Having had their lead wiped out in midweek Manchester City have the chance to steal a march on their Premier League title rivals when they host Fulham on Saturday.
'I'm proud of my Indian connection. Why shouldn't I be?'
West Ham United maintained their impressive start to the season when they beat champions Manchester City 2-1 at Upton Park on Saturday to consolidate their place in the top four of the Premier League.
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.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Wednesday
Chelsea's woes continued when the holders were dumped out of the Capital One (League) Cup fourth round following a shootout defeat by Stoke City on Tuesday, while Arsenal suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at second tier Sheffield Wednesday.
Wayne Rooney's future is on the mind of every Manchester United fan but it is the club's current Premier League form that should concern them more as they visit Stoke City on Sunday on a run of four straight away league draws.
Harry Kane's magical season continued on Saturday as he celebrated his first senior England call-up with his first Premier League hat-trick.
Manchester United took advantage of Chelsea's inactivity on Saturday to reclaim top spot in the Premier League, the 35-year-old Paul Scholes clinching a 1-0 victory at struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers. The champions, without injured striker Wayne Rooney, laboured at Molineux but Scholes pounced for his 100th league goal after 73 minutes to put United on 63 points, two ahead of Chelsea who are in FA Cup action against Stoke City on Sunday.
Title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur made hay in the sunshine as Son Heung-min scored twice in a 4-0 thrashing of Watford that closed the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to four points in Saturday's early kickoff.
Tottenham Hotspur claimed a first victory at Chelsea for 28 years with Dele Alli scoring twice in the second half as they came back to win 3-1 and cement fourth place in the Premier League on Sunday.
West Ham had lost their first three Premier League games to sit bottom of the table and their dismal start to the campaign had already sparked speculation among pundits as to whether new manager Manuel Pellegrini would see out the season.
Arsenal ended Leicester City's brief stay at the top of the Premier League on Sunday despite being held to a 0-0 draw at Stoke City after Manchester United's Wayne Rooney struck late for a 1-0 win at Liverpool.
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss the champions' visit to Manchester City on Sunday after an appeal against a red card for the Belgian international was rejected by the Football Association.
