Blues in control as Arsenal deadlocked at break

Chelsea began 2005 with a 1-0 win at Liverpool to remain clear of their rivals at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

The Reds had lost just once in the league at Anfield all season but were beaten when substitute Joe Cole’s shot from the edge of the area deflected in off Jamie Carragher’s heel with 10 minutes to go.

Jose Mourinho’s team have now won eight of their 11 away games this season, conceding just five goals in those matches.

Arsenal did their best to keep pace with their rampant London neighbours but were pegged back to 1-1 at half-time by a cracking strike from Charlton defender Talal El Karkouri.

The Gunners went in front through Freddie Ljungberg’s 35th-minute goal, a neat swivel and shot from a Patrick Vieira cross.

Everton were in danger of slipping 12 points behind Chelsea as the Toffees trailed 2-1 at Tottenham.

Dean Marney and Reto Ziegler each scored their first-ever Premiership goals to give Spurs the advantage but Tim Cahill gave the Merseysiders a fighting chance by pulling one back five minutes before the break.

Bottom club West Brom were on course for their first win under Bryan Robson’s management as they led 1-0 at Bolton.

Zoltan Gera’s shot after 12 minutes was placed beyond the reach of 41-year-old Bolton goalkeeper Kevin Poole.

As thing stood the Baggies would go level on points with Southampton one place above them as the Saints trailed 2-0 at Manchester City.

A well-worked corner led to the Blues’ first goal, with Dutch midfielder Paul Bosvelt heading in in the 19th minute.

The second was a peach from Shaun Wright-Phillips, who won possession in the centre-circle before beating Antti Niemi with a powerful shot.

Fulham scored their first win since October, beating Crystal Palace 3-1 in a 2pm kick-off at Craven Cottage.

Andy Cole fired the Cottagers into a fourth-minute lead but Palace hit back through an Andrew Johnson penalty in the 35th minute. It was the former Birmingham striker’s 11th Premiership goal of the campaign.

A second away draw in a row was on the cards for the Eagles until a piece of individual brilliance from Cole restored Fulham’s lead, and Tomasz Radzinski made sure of the points with a 73rd-minute tap-in.

Norwich seemed set to climb above Palace and out of the relegation zone as they held a 1-0 lead at Portsmouth despite the early sending-off of Marc Edworthy for a professional foul on Diomansy Kamara.

The Canaries’ goal came from Damien Francis in the ninth minute, back in the side after recovering from a fractured cheekbone.

Birmingham’s swift rise to ninth after four straight wins was in danger of being stopped by Newcastle, who led 2-0 at St James’ Park and could have scored more.

Craig Bellamy teased his way past Olivier Tebily after five minutes and his cross was headed home by Shola Ameobi from close range. The Magpies doubled their lead a minute before the break through Lee Bowyer.

There were no first-half goals at Villa Park, where Aston Villa were taking on Blackburn.