Chelsea maintain lead
Chelsea weathered an extraordinary 65-yard goal by Charlie Adam to re-establish their seven-point lead at the Premier League summit with a 2-1 defeat of Stoke City on Saturday.
Arsenal had trimmed Chelsea's lead to four points by blitzing Liverpool 4-1 and a twist appeared in store when Adam cancelled out Eden Hazard's 39th-minute penalty in show-stopping fashion at Stamford Bridge.
A minute before half-time, the Scottish midfielder picked up a loose ball deep inside his own half and launched a raking shot with his left foot that Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could only help into the net.
It was a goal that brought to mind David Beckham's famous lob against Wimbledon in 1996 and Chelsea's cause was further harmed when Diego Costa limped off with a hamstring injury 10 minutes after coming on at half-time.
But Loic Remy gave Chelsea victory in the 62nd minute, tapping home a pass from Hazard after Willian had intercepted Asmir Begovic's throw, to leave Jose Mourinho's side seven points clear with a game in hand.
Arsenal had earlier dealt Liverpool's Champions League qualification hopes a massive blow with a stylish victory that lifted Arsene Wenger's side to second place.
Arsenal scored three times in a dizzying eight-minute spell immediately prior to half-time at the Emirates Stadium, with Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil, from a direct free-kick, and Alexis Sanchez on target.
Jordan Henderson hit back with a 76th-minute penalty, but after Emre Can was sent off for two bookable offences, Olivier Giroud slammed home Arsenal's fourth in stoppage time.
Beaten 2-1 by Manchester United before the international break, Liverpool have now lost twice in succession and were left seven points below the top four after United beat Aston Villa 3-1.
Champions Manchester City slipped to fourth place ahead of their trip to Crystal Palace on Monday after United sank Villa at Old Trafford to claim third place and move eight points clear of Liverpool.
Ander Herrera scored twice for the hosts and Wayne Rooney found the net with a stunning shot on the turn, while Christian Benteke replied for Villa with a tame effort that crept underneath David de Gea.
Results
Arsenal 4 (Bellerin 37, Ozil 40, Sanchez 45, Giroud 90+1) Liverpool 1 (Henderson 76-pen)
Chelsea 2 (Hazard 39-pen, Remy 62) Stoke 1 (Adam 44)
Everton 1 (Jagielka 16) Southampton 0
Leicester 2 (Cambiasso 12, King 86) West Ham 1 (Kouyate 32)
Manchester United 3 (Herrera 43, 90+2, Rooney 79) Aston Villa 1 (Benteke 80)
Swansea 3 (Ki 18, Gomis 37, 90+1) Hull 1 (McShane 50)
West Brom 1 (Anichebe 58) QPR 4 (Vargas 15, Austin 37, Zamora 43, Barton 90+5)
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