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Xabi Alonso’s goal ended Chelsea’s 86-match unbeaten league run at Stamford Bridge today as Liverpool went three points above the Blues at the top of the Premier League table.
At the other end of the standings, basement club Tottenham Hotspur, in their first match since former Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp became manager after the Saturday sacking of Juande Ramos, won for the first time in the league this season by beating 10-man Bolton 2-0 at White Hart Lane.
Spurs’s first victory in nine league games, which featured Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko’s first Premier League goal for the club, still left them at the foot of the table but now they are just one point behind second-bottom Newcastle United.
“They’ve shown what they can do,” Redknapp said. “I remember coming back to Portsmouth when they were bottom of the league and thinking ‘my God, what I am going to do with this lot’ after the first game.
“But here today, some of the football was superb and the quality of the play was top-class.”
FA Cup holders Portsmouth looked like bouncing back from Redknapp’s shock exit with a win before Clint Dempsey’s late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for Fulham at Fratton Park.
Arsenal, Spurs’s next opponents in Wednesday’s north London derby, moved to within four points of Liverpool after a 2-0 win away to West Ham.
Aston Villa, fresh from their UEFA Cup victory over Ajax, defeated Wigan 4-0 while Brazil star and British record signing Robinho grabbed his first hat-trick in English football as Manchester City beat Stoke 3-0.
Alonso struck in the 10th minute when his shot was deflected past goalkeeper Petr Cech by Chelsea full-back Jose Bosingwa, whose side came into this match as leaders on goal difference.
Just after the hour mark, Alonso almost made it 2-0 when his free-kick from the edge of the box hit the foot of the post with Cech beaten.
For Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez it was a first away win during his four year tenure against one of their major three rivals – Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.
“There’s a long way to go but psychologically it should give us a big lift,” Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said.
This defeat, Chelsea’s first in over four years in the league at home, was also their first in 13 matches since Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari took charge.
Scolari added that what irked him most was the consequence of the defeat, not the end of Chelsea’s home record: “The problem for me is losing three points (not the unbeaten record).”
Pavlyuchenko, signed on transfer deadline day, started to repay some of his STG14 million ($A33m) fee in the 17th minute when he headed in a cross from David Bentley.
Bolton were reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute when Gavin McCann was sent-off for a second bookable offence.
Substitute striker Darren Bent, a 67th minute replacement for Pavlyuchenko, doubled Spurs’s lead from the penalty spot 14 minutes from time.
Arsenal were being held in the all-London clash at Upton Park before the Hammers Julien Faubert put through his own net 15 minutes from time.
Gunners substitute Emmanuel Adebayor then wrapped up victory with a counter-attack goal in the 90th minute. West Ham’s day was then got worse when Carlton Cole was sent-off in stoppage time.
Peter Crouch gave Portsmouth the lead just after the hour mark after being played in by England strike partner Jermain Defoe.
But, just when home fans were about to start celebrating victory, Dempsey turned in Erik Nevland’s cross three minutes from time.
Villa, who went above champions Manchester United, took a 22nd minute lead when Gareth Barry scored from the penalty spot after Titus Bramble fouled Gabriel Agbonlahor.
The striker then got on the scoresheet himself in the 57th minute when Agbonlahor got on the end of a John Carew knock down from a corner.
Minutes later Agbonlahor turned provider for Carew before substitute Steve Sidwell wrapped things up with a goal on his Villa debut in the final minute.
Robinho, a STG32.5 million ($A78m) capture from Real Madrid, gave City an early lead at Eastlands when he turned in a cross from Ched Evans. He made it 2-0 from close range shortly after half-time before completing his hat-trick in the 72nd minute.
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