Liverpool overtook Manchester United at the top of The Premier League – for a couple of hours anyway – on Saturday with a 3-1 win at Hull.

Before United's amazing comeback against Spurs,  Rafa Benitez’s side took advantage to assert themselves as league leaders.

Xabi Alonso fired The Reds into the lead with a wonderful strike after seeing his free kick blocked, and Dirk Kuyt bagged a brace, which was punctuated by a Geovanni effort for the struggling Tigers.

Aston Villa drew 1-1 at Bolton where Ashley Young’s opener was cancelled out by Tamir Cohen as The Trotters edge ever closer to Premier League safety. Report | Ratings&Stats

Martin O’Neill’s side are now two points ahead of Everton in fifth place after David Moyes’ side were beaten 2-1 at home by Manchester City.

Robinho scored City’s first with a beautifully worked goal and Stephen Ireland converted the Brazilian’s cross-field pass for a second, before Dan Gosling scored a late consolation for The Toffees.

Everton’s bad afternoon was compounded by a nasty-looking knee injury for Phil Jagielka, who was stretchered off just shy of 30 minutes from full time.

Fulham’s push for Europa League football next season took another step in the right direction with a 1-0 win at home over Stoke as Erik Nevland came off the bench to score. Tony Pulis’ side remains eight points clear of the relegation zone.

West Ham lost ground on The Cottagers as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Chelsea, who prevailed thanks to a second-half Salomon Kalou goal and a Petr Cech penalty save.

Chelsea’s goalscorer pulled Herita Ilunga back to hand The Hammers a chance to salvage a point against the run of play, but Cech foiled Mark Noble from the penalty spot.

And Sunderland remain perilously close to the bottom three after being undone 3-0 at bottom-placed West Brom, whose faint survival hopes were revived with three points.

Goals from Jonas Olsson, Chris Brunt and Juan Carlos Menseguez secured The Baggies an emphatic home win against a poor Black Cats outfit.