Second-placed Manchester United play Arsenal at Highbury on Tuesday.

Elsewhere third placed Liverpool's bid for an 11th successive league win was ended at Bolton, where the European champions twice came from behind in a 2-2 draw.

Liverpool handler Rafael Benitez said that Bolton's over physical approach had put off his side.

"It's very difficult to play here. Players diving all the time, pushing - they have another set of rules," said Benitez.

Meanwhile at the foot-of-the-table, second-bottom Birmingham beat Wigan 2-0 but basement club Sunderland, who took the lead, lost 2-1 away to Fulham in a match where both sides finished with 10 men.

Everton pulled clear from danger with a 3-1 win over Charlton at Goodison Park, Australia international Tim Cahill scoring two headed goals while Newcastle and Middlesbrough shared the points in a 2-2 derby draw.

Aston Villa beat Midlands rivals West Brom 2-1, a defeat that left the Baggies two points above the relegation zone.

Steven Davis put Villa ahead before Steve Watson equalised in the 76th minute. But minutes later Watson conceded the penalty from which Milan Baros scored Villa's winner.

In Monday's late match Blackburn Rovers went into eighth place after a 2-1 win at home to struggling Portsmouth.

Tunisia defender Radhi Jaidi put Bolton ahead in the 10th minute, heading in after Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina flapped at a Stelios Giannakopoulos free-kick.

But Liverpool, who stayed in third place, equalised in the 67th minute when skipper Steven Gerrard scored a penalty after he'd been fouled by Joey O'Brien.

Former Liverpool player El-Hadji Diouf restored Bolton's lead in the 71st minute only for substitute Luis Garcia to draw Liverpool level eight minutes from time.

Birmingham were 2-0 up inside 33 minutes against Wigan. Jermaine Pennant scored his first Premiership goal for the club when he headed in Jiri Jarosik's cross in the 20th minute before Mario Melchiot netted from six yards.

"We've had a fantastic season so far but I won't stand for people patting themselves on the back," said Wigan manager Paul Jewell.

Newcastle's Peru international Nolberto Solano scored with a 30-yard free-kick in the 27th minute.

But Boro drew level though Nigeria striker Yakubu in the 54th minute.

Dutch forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink put Boro ahead three minutes from time before Newcastle's Lee Clark levelled in the dying seconds.

Sunderland went ahead at Craven Cottage in the seventh minute when Liam Lawrence struck a spectacular volley.

The hosts scored two minutes before half-time when Brian McBride's header was nodded home by Collins John.

Sunderland were a man down in the 57th minute when Stephen Caldwell was sent-off for a foul on McBride. And four minutes later John's second headed-goal sealed Fulham's comeback.

At Goodison Park, James Beattie's ninth minute penalty was saved by keeper Thomas Myhre but the striker scored from the rebound.

Charlton equalised eight minutes later through Matt Holland but Cahill powered in a 41st minute headder from Mikel Arteta's free-kick before scoring again just shy of the hour mark.