Liverpool go top, Chelsea lose ground

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Fernando Torres came off the bench to head a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool twice came from behind to reclaim top spot in the English Premier League with a thrilling 3-2 win at Portsmouth on Saturday.

Liverpool have 54 points from 25 matches, one point ahead of Manchester United who have two games in hand, starting with Sunday's visit to West Ham United.

Chelsea's title challenge is fading fast as they followed last week's defeat at Liverpool with a 0-0 home draw against Hull City that meant they dropped to fourth, behind Aston Villa who won 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers.

Villa, who claimed a club-record seventh consecutive away league win, have 51 points from 25 games with Chelsea on 49.

Brazilian striker Jo made a sparkling debut for sixth-placed Everton, earning a first-half penalty for Mikel Arteta to convert and scoring two goals after the break in a 3-0 defeat of Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park.

Goalkeeper Shay Given, another debutant, also shone in Manchester City's 1-0 home defeat of Middlesbrough who have now gone 13 matches without a win.

Newcastle United eased relegation fears with a 3-2 win at bottom club West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City's 2-0 defeat at Sunderland meant the four clubs at the bottom all lost.

Wigan Athletic and Fulham played out a 0-0 draw.