Chelsea cut Manchester United's Premier League lead to six points on Wednesday after a Frank Lampard penalty gave the champions a dour 1-0 win at struggling Manchester City.
Making the most of their game in hand on the leaders, Lampard drove home a 28th minute spot-kick at Eastlands to move Chelsea on to 66 points, compared to United's 72, from 29 games.
It was another blow for City manager Stuart Pearce, whose side have slipped to one place above the relegation zone and who dismissed reports on Tuesday that he faced the sack if City lost to Chelsea and at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Arsenal won 1-0 at Aston Villa in the night's other game to leapfrog Liverpool into third place with 55 points from 28 games. French midfielder Abou Diaby scored their winner after nine minutes.