Chelsea moved back on top of the Premier League with a convincing 3-0 win at home against Birmingham City. Birmingham arrived at Stamford Bridge on a club-record 15-match unbeaten run, but that unbeaten streak was in jeopardy within six minutes when City left Florent Malouda unmarked in the penalty box, as he headed in a cross from Joe Cole.
Chelsea spurned several good chances before Frank Lampard added a second before half-time. Lampard again finished of the scoring in the 90th minute as Chelsea look the most likely team to win the Premier League this season.
One of the other title contenders, Arsenal, could only draw 0-0 at Aston Villa. Arsenal’s best chance came just before halftime at Villa Park when captain Cesc Fabregas hit the post when Brad Friedel was beaten. The bar also denied Arsenal in the second half when Andrei Arshavin’s shot was parried by Friedel and Tomas Rosicky’s shot came off the underside of the woodwork but did not cross the line.
It was a good night for Americans on Merseyside as Landon Donovan scored his first goal for Everton since arriving on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy. Donovan’s goal helped Everton to a 2-0 victory over Sunderland.
And finally Big Sam and Blackburn continued their recent good spell with a 2-1 victory over Wigan. The win moved Blackburn seven points clear of the relegation zone and into 11th place in the table.
