Joe Cole
LONDON (Reuters):
CHELSEA EXTENDED their Premier League lead to 11 points after Joe Cole earned the champions a 1-0 win over Manchester City and rivals Manchester United were held 2-2 by Birmingham City yesterday.
European champions Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners over Everton, who finished with nine men, in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park to close within four points of United.
There were plenty of goals in London, where Arsenal crushed Portsmouth 4-0, Fulham drew 3-3 with Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic beat West Ham 2-0. West Bromwich Albion were surprise 2-0 winners over Tottenham Hotspur at the Hawthorns.
Chelsea, whose only league defeat last season came at the City of Manchester Stadium, had to wait until the 79th minute for the matchwinner from their England midfielder.
PEGGED BACK
United were twice in front against Birmingham through Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney but were pegged back for a draw which left them on 41 points, compared to Chelsea's 52, from 19 games.
Liverpool stay third but move on to 37 points from 17 games, three points ahead of both Spurs and Wigan.
Liverpool captain Steve Gerrard did the damage at Goodison, making one goal and scoring another, while Everton had Phil Neville dismissed in the 68th minute and Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta sent off in stoppage time.
Freezing temperatures across the country put paid to three fixtures - Bolton Wanderers versus Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers versus Sunderland and Newcastle United versus Charlton Athletic.
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
| Arsenal | | 4 | Portsmouth | 0 |
| Birmingham City | 2 | Manchester United | 2 |
| Everton | 1 | Liverpool | 3 |
| Fulham | 3 | Aston Vill | 3 |
| Manchester City | 0 | Chelsea | 1 |
| West B. Albion | | 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 |
| W Ham United | 0 | Wigan Athletic | 2 |
