Premier League Round-up: A Fernando Torres hat-trick helped Liverpool claim a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough at Anfield which lifted the Reds up to fourth in the Barclays Premier League table.
Rafael Benitez's side climbed ahead of city rivals Everton, who face Manchester City on Monday, into the fourth Champions League place on goal difference.
Torres, who struck three times against Reading in the League Cup earlier in the season, gave Gareth Southgate's side a lesson in finishing to score his first Premier League hat-trick and take his goals tally to 21 in all competitions.
It was though the visitors who had taken the lead through Tuncay Sanli in the ninth minute after he headed a Stewart Downing free-kick past goalkeeper Jose Reina from close range.
Torres equalised in the 28th minute after he latched on to a backward header from Julio Arca and rounded goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer before slotting home.
The Spanish international put Rafael Benitez's side ahead in spectacular fashion a minute later with a superb 25-yard shot which flew into the bottom-left corner of the net.
Torres collected his third in the 61st minute after he capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Schwarzer and defender David Wheater to lift the ball into the net.
Stewart Downing pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 83rd minute with a superb run before Jeremie Aliadiere was sent off but Liverpool held on to claim the points.
James McFadden scored a last-minute penalty to give Birmingham a 2-2 draw against Arsenal but the match was overshadowed by an horrific injury to Gunners striker Eduardo da Silva.
The Croatia international suffered a broken leg in the third minute of the day's early kick-off after a tackle by Martin Taylor, who was sent off.
McFadden had given Alex McLeish's side the lead in the 28th minute but Theo Walcott (50) equalised with a neat finish from close range.
Walcott then put Arsene Wenger's side ahead five minutes later before McFadden equalised from the spot in injury time after the referee decided Gael Clichy had fouled Stuart Parnaby inside the penalty area.
Jermain Defoe scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot to give Portsmouth a 1-0 win over Sunderland at Fratton Park.
Black Cats defender Phil Bardsley brought down Pompey midfielder Niko Kranjcar inside the penalty area.
Defoe took the resulting spot-kick in the 69th minute and smashed the ball past goalkeeper Craig Gordon to keep Harry Redknapp's side in the hunt for a European place.
Wigan boosted their survival hopes with a 2-0 over former manager Paul Jewell's Derby side at the JJB Stadium.
Paul Scharner (60) put Steve Bruce's side ahead after a scramble inside the box and Antonio Valencia added a second with a clever curling finish in the 84th minute.
Elsewhere Fulham remain in trouble after the suffered contentious one-goal defeat to West Ham at Craven Cottage.
Nolberto Solano challenged goalkeeper Antti Niemi in the box and bundled the ball home from inside the six-yard box before Leon Andreasen was dismissed for a second-bookable offence.
