Arsenal, Ipswich Town and Leeds United all found solid victories this afternoon to maintain their push for Champions League qualification, but Chelsea's hopes looked to be ended by a 1-0 home defeat by Charlton Athletic.
Second-placed Arsenal beat Everton 4-1 with goals from Frederik Ljungberg, Gilles Grimandi, Sylvain Wiltord and Thierry Henry, to move to 63 points and maintain their grip on second place.
They remain one point ahead of Ipswich - who left Coventry City facing the drop with a 2-0 win - with Leeds a further three points back on 59 after a 2-0 win at West Ham United.
Chelsea have 54 points, one ahead of Liverpool who host Tottenham Hotspur on tomorrow.
Middlesbrough won 3-0 at Leicester City - who have now lost seven league games in a row - to move five points clear of the danger zone, but it looks all over for Manchester City, who drew 1-1 at champions Manchester United in an early kick-off.