Liverpool cruised to victory over Blackburn, but Manchester United answered the call with a battling win at Sunderland.

Chelsea claimed a 4-3 win over Bolton, Arsenal came from behind to beat Wigan and Middlesbrough saw off Hull.

Sunderland slipped to their fourth successive defeat, but they made Manchester United work hard for the three points. Paul Scholes headed The Red Devils ahead, but Kenwyne Jones netted a deserved leveler on 55 minutes.

Sir Alex Ferguson pulled a tactical masterstroke for the second week running with the same player, as Federico Macheda climbed off the bench to score with his first touch and secure the points

Liverpool threw down the gauntlet to Manchester United earlier in the day with a comfortable 4-0 win over Blackburn. Fernando Torres set the ball rolling with a stunning dipping volley on four minutes and he rose above the giant Chris Samba to hand them a cushion.

A thunderbolt from Dan Agger made the game safe and David N’gog put the seal on the victory with a header in the final minute. - Match Report / Ratings&Stats

Chelsea are keeping tabs on United and Liverpool and they produced the goods against Bolton, but only just. Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba (2) and Frank Lampard had The Blues in control and allowed Guus Hiddink to rest Drogba and Lampard.

Bolton had not written the script though, as Andy O’Brien, Chris Basham and Matt Taylor scored to hand Chelsea an almighty fright.

At long last Middlesbrough rediscovered their scoring boots as they secured a vital 3-1 win over Hull. Boro have been written off by many, but Tuncay fired them into an early lead at The Riverside. Manucho headed Hull level, but Boro found a second before the break through Matthew Bates. Hull threw everything at Boro in the second half, but they were undone by a Tigers old boy as Marlon King sealed the win with a late third.

Relegation may be looming for West Brom, but they are still in there fighting and took a point at Portsmouth.

Younes Kaboul fired Pompey ahead, but a goal from Jonathan Greening and deflected free kick from Chris Brunt turned the game on its head.

The Baggies failed to kill off the contest and Niko Kranjcar netted with a superb free kick to earn Pompey a point.

Roman Pavlyuchenko proved to be a supersub for Tottenham, as the Russian climbed off the bench to score the only goal in the win over West Ham.

Arsenal came from a goal down to beat Wigan 4-1 at the DW Stadium. Mido’s early finish had Wigan in command, but they succumbed to a second-half onslaught. Theo Walcott drew Arsenal level on the hour, before Mikael Silvestre popped up to convert a cross from Cesc Fabregas.

Wigan wilted in the final ten minutes and a fine finish from Andrei Arshavin and late goal from Alex Song sealed the win for The Gunners that edges them ever close to securing fourth place.

Newcastle United drew with Stoke City 1-1 in the late game. Stoke opened the scoring in the 33rd minute through former Newcastle player Abdoulaye Faye before an Andy Carroll header in the 81th minute got a point for the Magpies.