BPL: Giroud sends Arsenal back to the top, Chelsea down Liverpool

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Olivier Giroud ensured Arsenal will finish 2013 on top of the Premier League as his second half goal clinched a 1-0 win against Newcastle, while Chelsea kept the pressure on the leaders with a 2-1 win over title rivals Liverpool on Sunday.

Arsenal, who were without German playmaker Mesut Ozil, took the lead when France forward Giroud bagged his 11th goal of the season with a glancing header from Theo Walcott's free-kick in the 65th minute.

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At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea came from behind to win the weekend's marquee match-up thanks to goals from Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto'o.

Jose Mourinho's third placed team are now two points adrift of Arsenal and one behind City, with Liverpool slipping down to fifth spot.

Liverpool had made a dream start when Martin Skrtel bundled home from close-range after Chelsea failed to clear Phillipe Coutinho's inswinging free-kick.

But Brendan Rodgers' side were once again unable to hold onto their advantage.

It took the Blues just 14 minutes to equalise as Oscar's shot hit Mamadou Sakho and bounced towards Belgian midfielder Hazard, who seized possession and blasted an unstoppable shot into the top corner of Simon Mignolet's goal.

And Chelsea struck again in the 34th minute when Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o met Oscar's low cross with a prodded strike that eluded Mignolet's weak attempted save.

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Earlier, Everton climbed into the top four with a 2-1 win over Southampton at Goodison Park.

Romelu Lukaku's winner meant Roberto Martinez's side moved above Merseyside rivals Liverpool into fourth place.

Irish defender Seamus Coleman opened the scoring for Everton with a fine strike in the ninth minute.

The Toffees were rocked in the 71st minute when Adam Lallana picked out Gaston Ramirez and the Southampton star advanced before smashing a dipping shot past Everton keeper Joel Robles.

But on-loan Chelsea striker Lukaku struck three minutes later to seal Everton's third win in their last four matches.

Elsewhere, Tim Sherwood celebrated his first victory as Tottenham's permanent manager as Stoke were beaten 3-0 at White Hart Lane.

The north Londoners took the lead in the 37th minute when Roberto Soldado converted a penalty after Ryan Shawcross blocked Emmanuel Adebayor's acrobatic shot with his arms.

Mousa Dembele added the second in the 65th minute and Aaron Lennon delivered the knockout blow four minutes later.

Leading English Premier League scorers

19: Suarez (Liverpool)

13: Aguero (Man City)

10: Remy (Newcastle)

9: Lukau (Everton), Rooney (Man Utd), Sturridge (Liverpool), Y. Toure (Man City)

8: Giroud (Arsenal), Hazard (Chelsea), Negredo (Man City), Ramsey (Arsenal), Rodriguez (Southampton)

7: van Persie (Man Utd)

6: Gouffran (Newcastle), Lambert (Southampton), Welbeck (Man Utd)

5: Cabaye (Newcastle), Coleman (Everton), Hooper (Norwich), Oscar (Chelsea), Soldado (Spurs)

4: Adam (Stoke), Benteke (Aston Villa), Bony (Swansea), F. Campbell (Cardiff), Chamakh (Crystal Palace), Dyer (Swansea), Dzeko (Man City), Kozak (Aston Villa), Lallana (Southampton), Lampard (Chelsea), Mutch (Cardiff), Nasri (Man City), Ozil (Arsenal), Silva (Man City), Walcott (Arsenal)