Salomon Kalou was Chelsea’s hero as they came from a goal behind against champions Manchester United to extend their unbeaten home Premier League record to 85 matches with a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Park Ji-sung gave United an 18th-minute lead when, after Dimitar Berbatov’s shot was parried by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, he slotted the loose ball home.
But unmarked substitute Kalou drew Chelsea level 10 minutes from time when he headed in a John Obi-Mikel free-kick.
PHOTO: EPA
The final score saw the Blues move to within a point of leaders Arsenal as they went above Liverpool and into second place on goal difference. United were left seven points behind Arsenal and six adrift of Chelsea.
Goals weren’t a problem for Manchester City as they thrashed Portsmouth 6-0 at Eastlands.
Aston Villa went fourth after a 2-1 win away to West Brom. Elsewhere, Everton came from 2-0 down to hold Premier League new boys Hull to a 2-2 draw while Tottenham stayed bottom after a goalless clash with Wigan.
Robinho teed-up fellow Brazilian Jo to score his first goal in England’s top-flight before finding the net himself.
City captain Richard Dunne also got his name on the scoresheet before Shaun Wright-Phillips claimed his first home goal since returning to the club for a second spell.
Substitute Ched Evans added to Portsmouth’s embarrassment in the closing stages, the 19-year-old grabbing his first senior goal for the club. And there was still time for Gelson Fernandes, another substitute, to score.
Leon Osman rescued a point for Everton at the KC Stadium after Hull had gone 2-0 up either side of half-time thanks to a Michael Turner’s first-half header and an own goal from Phil Neville.
But Tim Cahill’s controversial late strike gave Everton a lifeline and Osman capitalized with the equalizer 12 minutes from time. Kamil Zayatte could only stab his clearance from an Osman shot at Cahill — and the Australian blasted a shot against the crossbar which bounced down and, according to the referee’s assistant, over the line.
English Premier League
Team P GD PTS
1 Arsenal 5 9 12
2 Chelsea 5 7 11
3 Liverpool 5 3 11
4 Aston Villa 5 3 10
5 Man City 5 8 9
6 West Ham 5 2 9
7 Hull City 5 -3 8
8 Sunderland 5 -1 7
9 Everton 5 -2 7
10 Blackburn 5 -5 7
11 Fulham 4 0 6
12 Middlesbrough 5 -2 6
13 Portsmouth 5 -7 6
14 Wigan 5 3 5
15 Man Utd 4 0 5
16 Bolton 5 -2 4
17 West Brom 5 -2 4
18 Stoke 5 -3 4
19 Newcastle 5 -5 4
20 Tottenham 5 -3 2
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