Arsenal made the most of another Chelsea slip-up to climb to
fourth after coming from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 thanks to Thierry
Henry's stoppage-time winner.
Chelsea slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Everton to pile more
pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas whose training sessions have been closely
monitored by Russian owner Roman Abramovich this week.
United's victory over their arch rivals at Old Trafford,
courtesy of two Wayne Rooney goals, was marred by Liverpool striker Suarez's
refusal to shake hands with United defender Evra before the match.
It was the first time the two players had met since Suarez
was banned for eight matches for racially abusing the United defender in
October's reverse fixture at Anfield.
The snub had United manager Alex Ferguson branding Suarez a
"disgrace to Liverpool.” The win lifted the champions a point above
Manchester City before Roberto Mancini's men travel to Aston Villa on Sunday.
At the other end of the table, Blackburn Rovers stayed in
the relegation zone on goal difference despite a 3-2 victory at home to Queens
Park Rangers that left the London side hovering just above them.
In another game between two struggling sides, Wigan Athletic
got the better of local rivals Bolton Wanderers with a 2-1 victory at the
Reebok stadium.
Wigan stay bottom with 19 points but made up some ground on
the other relegation battlers with second-from-bottom Bolton on 20 and
Blackburn, QPR and Wolverhampton Wanderers on 21.
Norwich City rose to eighth after two goals from Grant Holt
helped them to a 3-2 win at fellow promoted side Swansea City while Fulham beat
Stoke City 2-1 in a mid-table meeting.
