Nine-man Liverpool suffered a sixth loss in seven games on Saturday with a 3-1 defeat at Fulham in a day of red cards in the Premier League.
Defenders Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher were two of eight players to see red on Saturday as Rafa Benitez's men were undone by goals from Bobby Zamora, Erik Nevland and Clint Dempsey.
Chelsea stayed top of the league with a comfortable 4-0 win at 10-man Bolton Wanderers, while Aruna Dindane hit a hat-trick as Portsmouth beat Wigan Athletic 4-0.
Earlier Arsenal had coasted to a 3-0 win over north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to move into second. Manchester United can go above them with a win at home to Blackburn Rovers in the day's late match.