Liverpool bounced back from four successive defeats to move back to fifth with a 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday.
Stewards were forced into action to clear an avalanche of beach balls before the game - a tip of the cap to Darren Bent's winner at the SoL last weekend - but Liverpool proved too strong once the real action got underway.
The fit-again Fernando Torres fired the Steven Gerrard-less Reds ahead just after the hour and David N'Gog sealed the points in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Both Nemanja Vidic and Javier Mascherano saw red during a stormy clash.
Ivan Klasnic scored a late winner for Bolton against Everton after the latter side had recovered a two-goal deficit at the Reebok Stadium.
Fulham also came from two goals down at Manchester City but managed to claim a point. Joleon Lescott and Martin Petrov looked to have given Mark Hughes' big spenders the points, but Damien Duff replied just after the hour and Clint Dempsey fired home to send a single point south.
And there was one other game on Sunday - the 2-2 draw between West Ham and Arsenal at Upton Park. Scott Parker saw red for the Hammers, and will miss next week's game at the Stadium of Light.
Saturday saw five top-flight games in addition to Sunderland's 2-1 defeat at Birmingham. Wigan pulled off an impressive 3-1 win at Burnley to end the Clarets' 100% home record. Hugo Rodallega played a key role, scoring a brace after Steven Fletcher gave Burnley the lead. Emmerson Boyce's goal sealed the win 14 minutes from time.
Frank Lampard weighed in with a brace for Chelsea as they brushed off Blackburn 5-0. Gael Givet kicked things off with an own goal after 20 minutes and Lampard hit the net twice before Michael Essien and Didier Drogba sealed a comprehensive win for Carlo Ancelotti's men, who occupy top spot by two points.
Elsewhere, Hull and Portsmouth played out a 0-0 draw which didn't really help either side, Glenn Whelan scored a late winner to give Stoke a 1-0 win at Spurs, and Midlands rivals Wolves and Aston Villa drew 1-1 at Molineux.
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