English Premiership: The club-by-club verdict

At the top of their game are Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Not so lucky are Derby County, Birmingham and Reading. We present the English Premiership report cards for the four that return to the Champions League … and the ones that got the chop.

Chelsea cheer as Rovers hold Man United

Blackburn Rovers handed Chelsea a shock lifeline in the English Premier League title race by holding leaders Manchester United to a 1-1 draw on Saturday. The champions were heading for defeat but Argentina striker Carlos Tevez rescued a precious point with just two minutes to go.

Adebayor sends Arsenal five points clear

Emmanuel Adebayor sent Arsenal five points clear at the top of the Premier League as Arsene Wenger's side won 2-1 against Aston Villa on Saturday. Adebayor headed the winner to extend Arsenal's lead over second placed Chelsea after Mathieu Flamini had cancelled out Craig Gardner's opener at Villa Park.

Never-say-die Arsenal has Wenger purring

Arsene Wenger saluted Arsenal's spirit after his Premier League table-toppers maintained their dream start to the season with a 2-0 win over Bolton. Second-half goals from Kolo Toure and Tomas Rosicky were enough to consolidate the London club's two-point lead and provided a timely lift before encounters with Liverpool and Manchester United.

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