Liverpool failed to break down an anemic West Ham side in a one-sided first-half at Anfield. Hyypia went close with a header and Gerrard hit the side netting with a driving run. The Hammers did though go closest with their only chance of the half - Craig Bellamy smacking the post with a fine effort. Before the break Kuyt had another chance for the home side. Ten minutes into the second-half Benayoun forced a great save from Robert Green. Following the substitution of Keane for Ngog just after hour mark, Cole went close with a header for the Hammers. Kuyt and Babel had late chances but Boa Morte could also have won it late on, Liverpool had to settle for a disappointing point.

20 minutes in at Stamford Bridge and Frank Lampard forced a save from Almunia with a header. On the half hour the Arsenal goalie was at fault for Chelsea’s opener, Almunia carelessly threw out the ball to lose the Gunners possession and Bosingwa’s teasing cross was turned into his own net from Johan Djourou. After soaking up a lot of pressure at the start of the second half, Arsenal sucker-punched the Blues with a powerful right-footed strike from Robin van Persie (offside), which left Cech grabbing think air. The Gunners then stunned the Bridge with a second moments later, Adebayor won a header from a free-kick, and van Persie picked up the ball and hit a low shot on the turn.

After a tentative opening, Wayne Rooney had the first real chance of the derby with a shot in the box that was saved by Hart. United then began to turn up the pressure, Ronaldo sending a header over the bar before Dimitar Berbatov forced a fine one-handed save from Hart with another header moments later. And United continued to turn the screw with Patrice Evra lifting a shot just over the bar. But after dominating possession, United then suffered the biggest scare of the match as Stephen Ireland’s shot scraped the outside of the post. Just as it looked like that half would end goalless City found themselves penned in their box, Carrick’s shot was only parried by Hart and Rooney scored from close-range. Garrido sent a free-kick just wide just after the hour mark, but the second half came to life when Cristiano Ronaldo made a huge error in judgment by handling a cross in the City box and receiving his marching orders after collecting his second yellow. At the death Wayne Rooney tried to score from 50-yards but Hart managed to scamper back and save the ball off the line.

After a goalless first half at White Hart Lane, Tottenham having the better of the limited chances, it was Everton who moved ahead after the break as Steven Pienaar broke the deadlock with a shot that deflected off Corluka.

Blackburn plunged further into the relegation mire as Paul Ince’s side lost at Fratton Park. After a goalless first half Rovers had drawn level through Matt Derbyshire and Tugay after goals from Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe had put the hosts 2-0 ahead at Fratton Park. But Sean Davis claimed his first goal since March 2006 with 11 minutes remaining to leave Blackburn second bottom.

Djibril Cisse put Sunderland ahead when he finished off a fine move, but Bolton hit back with a looping header from Matty Taylor and a rifled strike from Gary Cahill. Just on the half-hour Cisse thought he had equalised with an acrobatic volley but it was ruled out as Jones had pushed Samuel. Johan Elmander put Bolton 3-1 up just before the break following some shocking defending from Collins. Elmander got his second and third in two games after yet more horrible defending.

Marlon King’s fine turn and finish in first-half injury time handed Hull the lead after a poor opening half. After the break the hosts drew level as Ricardo Fuller was brought down for a penalty which he squeezed past Boaz Myhill.

After a goalless first half, the Baggies took the lead in the 47th minute as Ishmael Miller exploited a terrible Titus Bramble error to slot the visitors in front. But the Latics responded, first through Henri Camara’s second goal in as many games before finding a winner through unlikely hero Emmerson Boyce who headed home the crucial goal five minutes from time.

The Tyne-Wear derby ended in stalemate, as Mark Viduka returned from a long lay-off to the Toon.

Gareth Barry missed a hat-trick of first half opportunities for the hosts (first half highlights here) in a match Villa should have won.