Cristiano Ronaldo made an instant impact from the bench to fire Manchester United four points clear at the top of the Premiership after second-placed Chelsea were held to a 2-2 home draw by Reading in one of the early kick-offs.
United boss Alex Ferguson rested a number of big names in his side's 3-1 win over with Wigan but it was one of those, Ronaldo, entered the fray and grabbed a brace after a goalless first half.
Barely a minute later, a bullet header from Paul Scholes's corner gave United the lead. And four minutes after that, the Portugul international was taking a penalty after Park Ji-Sung was clipped by Gary Teale.
It was a poor effort and Chris Kirkland saved, but Ronaldo was on hand to net the rebound.
United went route one for their third, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer marking his first Premiership start for almost two months by flashing home Wayne Rooney's knockdown.
Leighton Baines scored a stoppage-time consolation from the spot after Mikael Silvestre felled David Wright.
Earlier, Chelsea paid the price for their questionable form of late, dropping two points at home to a lively Reading side who never gave up and secured a point in the most unorthodox fashion.
The champions have pulled two league games from the fire recently with last minute strikes against Everton and Wigan, but having looked to have done something similar today with Didier Drogba's second goal of the game, they shot themselves in the foot with a bizarre own-goal from Michael Essien.
Drogba opened the scoring for Jose Mourinho's side seven minutes before half-time, holding off Marcus Hahnemann to nod in Frank Lampard's corner.
The sides were level in the second half when Glen Little's cross found Leroy Lita at the back post, but Drogba looked to have rescued them again 18 minutes from time with a similar header from Shaun Wright-Philips's cross.
The writing was on the wall for Reading until Kevin Doyle's cross required Ashley Cole to intervene at the back post. The fullback was stretching and could only redirect the ball off the thigh of Essien and past Hilario in the Chelsea goal.
Arsenal needed a late winner from Robin van Persie at bottom club Watford to maintain their distant pursuit of the top two.
Gilberto Silva had given the Gunners a 19th-minute lead before Tommy Smith replied for the home side four minutes later.
Liverpool surrendered third to Arsenal place after missing a glut of chances against Blackburn at Ewood Park.
The home side ran out 1-0 winners thanks to Benni McCarthy's 10th goal of the season, the South African turning in Morten Gamst Pedersen's cross shortly after half-time.
But goalkeeper Brad Friedel was the man of the match against his former club, inflicting the Reds' first defeat in eight Premiership games and boosting his own side's survival hopes.
Bolton and Portsmouth took full advantage, both winning 2-1, against Newcastle and West Ham respectively.
The Trotters went third - temporarily at least - after coming from behind at the Reebok Stadium.
Kieron Dyer netted for the second straight game to put Newcastle ahead but a Peter Ramage own goal and in-form Nicolas Anelka turned the game.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, saw Linvoy Primus score his first goals for exactly two years to inflict Alan Curbishley's first defeat as West Ham boss.
The defender had not netted since Boxing Day 2004 but headed in Pedro Mendes' 16th-minute corner to break his duck before nodding in the same player's free-kick seven minutes before half-time.
But the second of the early kick-offs finished 2-1 to Pompey after Teddy Sheringham came off the bench to set up a tense finish.
The other 1pm start saw Tottenham hold off an Aston Villa fightback to continue their impressive home record.
Jermain Defoe celebrated his recall with both Spurs goals after twice being played in by the excellent Dimitar Berbatov.
Villa skipper Gareth Barry pulled one back with 10 nine minutes remaining but the home side held on for a 2-1 success.
Manchester City bounced back from home defeats to Tottenham and Bolton with a 1-0 victory at Sheffield United, Stephen Ireland scoring the late winner.
In the final 3pm kick-off, Everton and Middlesbrough played out a dour goalless draw at Goodison Park.
