Premier League Review:Under-pressure manager Rafael Benitez endured another day to forget as nine-man Liverpool crashed to a 3-1 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage on a day when Arsenal and Chelsea were convincing winners.
Last week's win over Manchester United ended a run of five successive defeats but that became six from seven as goals from Bobby Zamora, Erik Nevland and Clint Dempsey earned Fulham the points.
Fernando Torres had equalised just before the break but he was substituted in the second half. Nevland restored Fulham's lead and Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher both saw red within three minutes before Dempsey rubbed salt in the wound.
Chelsea moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to a second 4-0 win of the week over Bolton.
Carlo Ancelotti's side did not have things all their own way this afternoon but they took a decisive lead just before half-time through Frank Lampard's penalty after Jlloyd Samuel saw red for his challenge on Didier Drogba.
Deco netted the second on the hour mark and Zat Knight scored an own goal before Drogba completed the scoring in injury time.
Arsenal forward Robin van Persie struck twice to earn his side bragging rights in north London with a 3-0 victory over Tottenham in the early game.
Spurs have not won a league game against Arsenal since 1999, and they fell away after Van Persie opened the scoring at the Emirates Stadium and Cesc Fabregas added the second less than a minute later. Van Persie tapped in the third after the break.
Phil Brown is reportedly battling to hold on to his job at Hull but luck was certainly not on the Tigers' side as they went down 2-0 to Burnley.
Graham Alexander scored with a debatable penalty and Geovanni then saw a brilliant free-kick controversially chalked off before picking up two yellow cards in a matter of minutes.
Alexander struck from long range to make the points safe and Brown's mood would not have been improved by fellow strugglers West Ham and Portsmouth both picking up points.
Goals in quick succession from Guillermo Franco and Carlton Cole put the Hammers two up at Sunderland but an Andy Reid free-kick reduced the deficit to 2-1 at the break.
The visitors were also a man to the good after Kenwyne Jones saw red for pushing Herita Ilunga in the face but Kieran Richardson salvaged a point and the numbers were evened up when Radoslav Kovac was sent off late on.
Pompey, seeking only their second victory of the season and first at home, were convincing 4-0 winners against Wigan thanks to Aruna Dindane's hat-trick and one from Frederic Piquionne.
John Carew needed little over a minute to make his mark after coming on as a half-time substitute for Aston Villa at Everton.
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov put the Toffees ahead on the stroke of half-time but Carew netted a swift reply to earn Villa a 1-1 draw.
Both teams finished with 10 men after Bilyaletdinov and Carlos Cuellar saw red late on in separate incidents.
Wolves defender Jody Craddock scored twice as Mick McCarthy's side came from behind to draw 2-2 at in-form Stoke.
A George Elokobi own goal and Matthew Etherington's strike put the Potters two ahead at the break but a brace from Craddock at the start of the second half earned the visitors a point.
Manchester United take on Blackburn Rovers in the late game of the day (KO 5.30pm).
