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Chelsea squander lead

United’s win against Bolton was celebrated with added vigour at Old Trafford thanks to Chelsea’s loss at Villa Park in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side took the lead on 15 minutes through Didier Drogba, although Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel won’t want to see too many replays. The home side then equalised when Frank Lampard unwittingly flicked on a Villa corner for Richard Dunne to power home at the back post.

And it was another corner that proved Chelsea’s undoing on 52 minutes, James Collins losing his marker to head the home team in front. Villa held on to condemn Chelsea to their second successive away defeat.

The Blues weren’t the only “big four” side to lose on Saturday. Liverpool fans left the Stadium of Light deflated after Darren Bent scored the only goal of the game courtesy of a deflection off a blow-up beachball. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Sunderland's victory leaves Liverpool, United’s next opponents, in eighth place.

Tottenham went third on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 win at Fratton Park. Ledley King and Jermain Defoe put Spurs 2-0 up by half-time; Kevin-Prince Boateng pulled one back for Portsmouth just before the hour. Pompey remain rooted to the bottom of the league with just three points from nine games.

In London, Arsenal got off to a flier against Birmingham City. Goals from Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby put the Gunners 2-0 up inside 18 minutes. Lee Bowyer scored for Birmingham before the break but Andrei Arshavin put the game to bed on 84 minutes.

Stoke City continued their good home form with a 2-1 win over struggling West Ham. James Beattie scored from the penalty spot after 11 minutes and also notched a second-half winner after Matthew Upson had earlier levelled the scores.

Meanwhile, Wolves fans left Liverpool disappointed, despite picking up an unlikely point against Everton. Most punters had tipped an easy home win but it took an 88th minute equaliser from Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov to break Wolves hearts and rescue a draw. Kevin Doyle had earlier sent the travelling fans into rapture with a 76th-minute strike.