Chelsea romped to a 5-0 victory at Middlesbrough on Saturday while Liverpool and Arsenal produced stirring fightbacks to claim home wins over Wigan Athletic and Everton. Chelsea's lunchtime demolition job gave the Premier League leaders 20 points from eight games but Liverpool joined them on the same total after scoring twice in the last 10 minutes to snatch a 3-2 triumph over Wigan.
Arsenal moved to third on 16 points after netting three second-half goals to record a 3-1 victory against Everton. Aston Villa are fourth on 14 after drawing 0-0 at home to Portsmouth. Manchester United were playing West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford later on Saturday.
Chelsea travelled to Middlesbrough shorn of several injured regulars but went ahead through Salomon Kalou after 14 minutes. Their dominance bore fruit with four goals in 16 minutes early in the second half, starting with another stunning 30-metre shot by Brazilian Juliano Belletti who is making a habit of long-distance strikes. A second for Kalou and goals by Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda secured Chelsea's best away win in the league for five years.
"From the first moment our football, our movement and passing ... that was the best we've played for a long time," Lampard told Sky Sports television. Egyptian striker Amr Zaki scored twice, including a superb scissors kick, as Wigan outplayed Liverpool in the first half to lead 2-1 after Dirk Kuyt had replied for the hosts.
Wigan received a big blow when Antonio Valencia was sent off 15 minutes from time and Liverpool piled on the pressure, culminating in Albert Riera's equaliser and Kuyt's miss-hit winner with five minutes left. Arsenal went into Saturday's game on the back of a home defeat by Hull City and a draw at Sunderland and they fell behind against Everton following an early Leon Osman goal.