Carlos Tevez struck two minutes from time to rescue a point for Manchester United but the champions have left the door ajar for Chelsea after Roque Santa Cruz's early goal almost sent them home from Ewood Park empty handed.
Alex Ferguson's side are now just three points ahead of the west Londoners with a trip to Stamford Bridge on the cards, though they have a vastly superior goal difference.
Tevez headed the equaliser after Paul Scholes flicked on Nani's 88th minute corner.
A close-range finish from Gavin McCann gave Bolton a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough which lifted them out of the Barclays Premier League relegation places.
McCann's tap-in ensured Gary Megson's side move up to 16th place ahead of Reading on goal difference while Birmingham, who face Aston Villa on Sunday, slip into the drop zone.
Wanderers broke the deadlock in the 61st minute after an inswinging corner from Matthew Taylor was met by the head of Gary Cahill but his attempt was parried by goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.
McCann was the first to react and seized on the loose ball which he knocked home from a matter of inches.
Jermaine Pennant scored one and set up another as Liverpool strolled to a 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage which left Roy Hodgson's side five points adrift of safety.
The Liverpool winger was sent clear with a clever pass from Lucas and his shot from a tight angle deceived goalkeeper Kasey Keller and flew into the top-right corner of the net.
Rafael Benitez's side added a second in the 70th minute when Pennant turned provider after his dangerous run culminated in a neat through-ball to Peter Crouch and he slipped his shot through the legs of Keller from just inside the 18-yard box.
Emile Heskey equalised Dimitar Berbatov's opening goal as Wigan's clash with Tottenham at the JJB Stadium finished 1-1.
Berbatov had broken the deadlock in the sixth minute when Aaron Lennon crossed for the Bulgaria international to slide the ball home from close range.
But Heskey collected Kevin Kilbane's pass from the left flank before shrugging off the attentions of the Spurs defence and smashing a low shot past goalkeeper Radek Cerny.
Carlton Cole's 77th-minute strike gave West Ham a 2-1 win over a spirited Derby side at Upton Park.
Alan Curbishley's side had opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Bobby Zamora headed a George McCartney free-kick past a stranded Roy Carroll.
Tyrone Mears equalised in the 65th minute when he was sent clear by Hossam Ghaly and calmly dispatched the ball past goalkeeper Robert Green.
But Cole steered the ball home after he was set up Freddie Ljungberg who had delivered a low cross into the six-yard box to give the Hammers the points.
