Premier League Weekend Review
Manchester City caused the upset of the week by beating Chelsea while Liverpool and Arsenal ground out wins.
Sunday
On Sunday, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres marked his first start since January 13 by scoring the winner in an ill-tempered 2-1 victory over Blackburn at Anfield.
The Spain international hit his 13th goal in 17 Barclays Premier League appearances just before half-time, having missed five weeks at the start of the year after a knee operation.
Liverpool had gone ahead midway through the half through Steven Gerrard only for Jamie Carragher's handball to allow Keith Andrews to equalise from the penalty spot five minutes before the interval.
With fellow top-four rivals Tottenham and Manchester City both winning this weekend it was imperative Rafael Benitez's side maintain the pressure and they ground out a win against combative opponents.
Fifth-placed City remain one point ahead of Liverpool after beating Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge, while Spurs hold fourth place on goal difference after their 2-1 win over Everton on Sunday.
Roman Pavlyuchenko scored his sixth goal in four games when he netted the opener at White Hart Lane before Luka Modric doubled Tottenham's lead with a fine second against David Moyes' men.
Spurs had to survive a second-half comeback from Everton, who scored through Ayegbeni Yakubu and then saw substitute Landon Donovan miss an open goal.
Elsewhere, Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer denied struggling Sunderland a first Barclays Premier League victory in 14 attempts, to leave the Black Cats hovering precariously above the drop zone.
The Australia international kept out Darren Bent's first-half free-kick and then blocked Alan Hutton's left-foot effort after the break to ensure the game ended goalless.
The point lifted Sunderland three clear of the drop zone, but there is little doubt that Roy Hodgson will have been the happier manager.
Fulham extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games, three days after they secured their passage to the last 16 in the Europa League.
Saturday
In Saturday's early kick-off between Chelsea and Manchester City, Wayne Bridge refused to shake John Terry's hand, then snatched away all three points as well as City romped to a 4-2 victory against nine-man Chelsea.
Bridge's reaction during the traditional pre-match pleasantries had been predicted, but precious else was on a crazy afternoon started and finished by Frank Lampard.
Two howlers from stand-in Chelsea keeper Henrique Hilario allowed Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy to profit, then Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack were red carded as Tevez and Bellamy scored again to fire City back into the top four and leave the hosts just one point clear of Manchester United.
Portsmouth started their bid to avoid almost certain relegation after going into administration on Friday, meaning a nine-point deduction which has yet to be imposed, by winning 2-1 at Burnley.
Frederic Piquionne opened the scoring in the 25th minute but Martin Paterson brought the home side level when he hooked the ball over David James to level the scores six minutes later.
Stephen Fletcher missed a header from six yards from a Paterson cross before the visitors wrapped up the win but they did it the hard way.
Jamie O'Hara had missed a penalty before Hassan Yebda made it 2-1 to the visitors from the spot.
O'Hara's effort was saved by Brian Jensen after Clarke Carlisle fouled Piquionne but Yebda made no mistake to make it 2-1 after Carlisle was again penalised for fouling John Utaka.
Portsmouth had defender Ricardo Rocha sent off for a second booking - his second since joining the club in the January transfer window - in the 90th minute but held on for an invaluable victory.
It was Rocha's second dismissal in only three games for Portsmouth after his sending off against Sunderland on his last appearance.
James McFadden netted the winner in first-half injury time as Birmingham won 1-0 at home to Wigan to reach the 40-point mark.
Birmingham had gone close when Scott Dann's header hit the bar and then Chris Kirkland saved at point-blank range from McFadden but the Wigan keeper could do nothing when the same player converted from the spot after former Birmingham player Mario Melchiot was harshly penalised for a challenge on Keith Fahey.
Jo Hart did well to block a close-range shot from Hugo Rodallega in the second half before the game was held up for several minutes due to an injury to a linesman.
He had to be carried off after being caught by a challenge by Liam Ridgewell on Wigan's James McCarthy. He was replaced by the fourth official after a long delay which led to seven minutes of stoppage time.
Zat Knight's close-range finish close to half-time earned Bolton all three points against fellow strugglers Wolves at the Reebok Stadium.
Arsenal closed to within three points of Chelsea with a 3-1 win at Stoke as midfielder Aaron Ramsey suffered a bad injury in a tackle from Ryan Shawcross which saw the defender sent off.
Stoke opened the scoring when Danny Pugh headed in a long throw by Rory Delap which had been headed on by Shawcross.
But Nicklas Bendtner levelled things up before half-time when he headed home a cross by Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas scored from the penalty spot when Pugh was penalised from handball and Thomas Vermaelen grabbed a third late on.
Sunday Match Reports
Saturday Match Reports
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