Manchester United regained pole position in the Premier League on Sunday as they came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford to go back to the top of the table, dpa reported.
Fernando Torres headed Liverpool in front after just five minutes but Wayne Rooney equalized and Park Ji-Sung headed the winner for United in the second half.
The win lifted Sir Alex Ferguson's side two points above Arsenal at the top. Chelsea lost ground after they could only draw 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers, leaving them four points off the pace, though they still have a game in hand over the top two.
Manchester City won 2-1 at Fulham to move above Liverpool into fifth, two points behind Tottenham Hotspur in the race for fourth and the final Champions League spot. Liverpool are two points further back in sixth.
Rafael Benitez's side enjoyed the perfect start when Dirk Kuyt crossed from the right and an unmarked Torres headed the ball past Edwin van der Sar to put Liverpool in front.
Their lead lasted just seven minutes, though, as Javier Mascherano was adjudged to have pulled back Antonio Valencia in the penalty area.
Television replays suggested the foul started outside the box but the penalty was awarded and Rooney saw his spot-kick saved superbly by Pepe Reina, but the England striker knocked in the rebound.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, United were in front when Darren Fletcher's pinpoint cross was headed home by Park.
Torres missed a good chance to equalize while Yossi Benayoun headed straight at Van der Sar but United held out to move back to the top of the table.
An angry Benitez cast doubt on the legitimacy of the penalty.
"When you see the replay it is suspicious how he went to the ground," he said. "It is not clear but the way he fell down...is strange.
"It made a big difference. We were playing well and had confidence and then one situation changed everything."
Ferguson said Mascherano should have been sent off for the foul but said he believed his team were now favourites for the title.
"We have a very experienced back four, a very experienced goalkeeper and that gives us a real outstanding chance, albeit with seven difficult matches," he said.
"But we have all got difficult matches, so what does it matter? No one is going away. We are all knocking on doors. If you look at the run-ins for the teams, it could very well go to the wire."
Chelsea looked on course to close the gap when Didier Drogba put them ahead early on at Blackburn, but El-Hadji Djouf headed the equalizer in the second half to force a share of the points.
Manchester City improved their chances of securing Champions League football for next season after they won 2-1 at Fulham.
Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez put City 2-0 up at half-time and though Danny Murphy pulled one back from the penalty spot 15 minutes from time, City hung on for the victory.