Liverpool and Chelsea, perfect 20/20
Chelsea's clash with City was a meeting between the two most expensively assembled squads in Premier League history.
For long periods of a scrappy encounter, there was little reason to believe the money had been well spent.
David Luiz however, sunk City with 12 minutes to play at Stamford Bridge and Ramires added a second goal in stoppage time as Carlo Ancelotti's side moved one point ahead of Roberto Mancini's men.
Fernando Torres is now without a goal in seven matches since his British record transfer after the former Liverpool striker was hauled off in the 70th minute.
Liverpool were beaten at Sunderland in dubious circumstances last season when Darren Bent scored with a goal that deflected in off a beachball which had been thrown onto the pitch.
But Kenny Dalglish's side enjoyed their own moment of good fortune at the Stadium of Light this time as Kuyt netted a first half penalty awarded for a tackle by John Mensah that took place outside the area.
Luis Suarez scored Liverpool's second goal from what seemed an impossibly tight angle in the 77th minute to help erase the memory of his team's lacklustre midweek defeat against Braga in the Europa League and lift the Reds within four points of Tottenham.
Mensah's miserable day was completed when the Ghana defender was sent off for a professional foul on Suarez in the closing stages.
Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 30 | +34 | 63 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 29 | +30 | 58 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 29 | +29 | 54 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 30 | +18 | 53 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 29 | +7 | 49 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 30 | +5 | 45 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 30 | +1 | 40 |
| 8 | Everton | 30 | +1 | 40 |
| 9 | Sunderland | 30 | -4 | 38 |
| 10 | Stoke City | 30 | -2 | 37 |
| 11 | Newcastle United | 30 | -1 | 36 |
| 12 | Fulham | 30 | +0 | 35 |
| 13 | Blackburn Rovers | 30 | -12 | 33 |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 30 | -14 | 33 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 30 | -15 | 33 |
| 16 | West Bromwich … | 30 | -15 | 33 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 30 | -13 | 32 |
| 18 | Wolverhampton … | 30 | -14 | 32 |
| 19 | Birmingham City | 29 | -13 | 31 |
| 20 | Wigan Athletic | 30 | -22 | 30 |
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