LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea catapulted themselves to the top of the Premiership with a determined 1-0 victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues' knew they would leapfrog Arsenal if they could secure a point against third-placed Everton.
It looked like the Blues' would have to settle for just a point as they struggled to break down a resolute Toffee's rearguard.
In-form Dutch winger Arjen Robben made sure Jose Mourinho's side took all the points when he ghosted clear of the Everton defence and cooly slotted the ball past Nigel Martyn.
Arsenal will regain the top spot if they defeat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the late evening match.
Liverpool meanwhile slipped further back on the league leaders when they lost 1-0 at home to Birmingham.
Former England midfielder Darren Anderton broke the deadlock in the 77th minute when he scored his first goal for Steve Bruce's side.
At White Hart Lane, Charlton heaped more misery on managerless Tottenham with a 3-2 victory as they tried to come to terms with the sudden resignation of Jacques Santini on Friday.
The Addicks took an early lead when South African striker Shaun Bartlett scored the first goal when he collected a ball from Jerome Thomas and volleyed the ball past Spurs' goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Bartlett then doubled Charlton's lead in the first half with a fine diving header.
Drifting clear of the Spurs rearguard, Bartlett redirected a pinpoint cross from Luke Young past Robinson.
Charlton added a third goal at the start of the second half when Thomas exchanged passes with Bartlett.
Thomas saw his fierce shot take a wicked deflection off Spurs defender Ledley King and trickle past a stranded Robinson.
Spurs narrowed the lead when Robbie Keane scored from the spot after Bartlett was dismissed for handling the ball in his own penalty area.
England striker Jermaine Defoe then gave the White Hart Lane faithful some hope when he twisted clear of the Charlton defence to drill the ball past goalkeeper Dean Kiely.
Spurs laid siege to the Charlton goal as they sought a late equaliser, but Alan Curbishley's side held on for the win.
Aston Villa had earlier reignited their European ambitions by demolishing a sorry Portsmouth side 3-0 at Villa Park.
A first half blitz from the home side saw Peter Whittingham, Juan Pablo Angel and Nolberto Solano find the net as David O'Leary's side put the result beyond doubt by half-time.
West Brom failed to take all three points at the St Mary's Stadium as they drew 2-2 with Southampton.
An eventful first half saw Southampton take the lead when Swedish midfielder Anders Svensson sneaked past the West Brom defence to plant a firm header past goalkeeper Russell Hoult.
The Baggies stormed forward and took advantage of a terrible blunder by Saints keeper Alan Blayney to equalise after just 14 seconds.
Jonathan Greening sent a weak downward header towards the Saints penalty area which brushed striker Robert Earnshaw.
Blayney, making his Premiership debut, fumbled the ball into his own net.
The Midlands side pushed forward and added a rapid second when an unmarked Earnshaw collected a loose ball outside the area and blasted the ball past Blayney.
Svensson scored a last-gasp goal to make sure the spoils were shared.
Newly promoted Norwich fought out a 1-1 draw with Blackburn at Carrow Road.
Burly Swedish striker Matthias Svensson had given Norwich the lead when he poked a loose ball past Brad Friedel in the Rovers' goal.
Diminutive Scottish striker Paul Dickov leapt above the Norwich defence to score a dramatic equaliser.
The late goal ensures the Canaries' are still searching for their first top flight victory since 1995.
11/06/2004 - 19:46 GMT - AFP