LONDON (AP):

CHELSEA CUT their deficit from Premier League leaders Manchester United back to three points yesterday by beating West Ham 4-1.

Shaun Wright-Phillips scored two goals and Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba added the others for the two-time defending champions. Carlos Tevez scored one for West Ham.

Liverpool got two goals from Steven Gerrard to move back into third place with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, and Blackburn beat last-place Watford 3-1.

Wright-Phillips scored his two goals in only six minutes in the first half and Tevez scored his in between.

Kalou chested the ball to Wright-Phillips in the 31st for his first goal of the season. The Chelsea striker avoided several defenders before changing direction with a dip of the shoulder and shooting past West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green.

Tevez briefly equalised in the 35th with a shot from 25 yards that Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech appeared to misplay.

The goal ended a string of eight straight shutouts for both Chelsea and Cech.

Chelsea reclaimed the lead less than a minute later, however. Defender Wayne Bridge ran down the left side and crossed to Wright-Phillips, who volleyed past Green.

Kalou made it 3-1 in the 51st by tapping in a rebound after Drogba had nearly scored off Frank Lampard's cross.

Lampard was able to set up Drogba for the fourth goal, sending a looping pass that the Ivory Coast striker controlled with one touch and then shot through the legs of Green. The goal was Drogba's 19th in the league this season.