The Premier League's 'Top 4' all claimed maximum points from their respective games today. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United were particularly impressive whilst Liverpool had to battle hard to claim all three points at home to Steve Bruce's Wigan Athletic.
Chelsea began that day top of the Barclays Premier League table and they looked keen to keep it that way from the off at Middlesbrough. In truth, Boro never really looked like getting anything from the game as soon as Salomon Kalou put the visitors in front after just a quarter of an hour. Luis Filipe Scolari's men ran out 5-0 winners in the end with goals from Belletti, Kalou (2), Lampard and Malouda.
Liverpool knew that three points were needed to keep them level with Chelsea at the top of the table and they just managed to do so. Rafa Benitez' men had to come from behind twice after Amr Zaki put the visitors ahead on two occasions. However it was the home side that ran out 3-2 winners with goals from Kuyt (2) and Riera.
Arsenal were looking to move into third place in the table with a win at home against Everton. It wasn't all plain sailing for the home side though as David Moyes' took an early lead through Leon Osman. But it was Arsene Wenger's men that claimed all three points with three second-half goals from Nasri, Van Persie and Walcott. Arsenal 3-1 Everton the final score.
The Champions, Manchester United, hosted newly-promoted West Brom at Old Trafford in the late kick-off. The visitors certainly proved no push-overs, keeping the scoreline level until ten minutes into the second-half. Once Sir Alex Ferguson's side got their first goal they ran riot. The game finished 4-0 but in truth United could of scored several more. The goals coming from Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov and Nani.
Impressive stuff from the big boys in the Premier League today. Chelsea were outstanding and I think Scolari deserves a lot of credit for the way in which has side went about their business today at the Riverside. All four sides now face tricky Champions League matches mid-week.
Elsewhere it finished : Bolton 0-0 Blackburn, Fulham 0-0 Sunderland, Aston Villa 0-0 Portsmouth.