Liverpool have continued their brilliant recent form with a 2-0 home win over Burnley in the Barclays Premier League on Wednesday night.
Brendan Rodgers' Reds produced their ninth win in their past 12 outings, of which they are undefeated, courtesy of goals either side of the break from Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge.
Henderson struck in the 29th minute and fit-again Sturridge in the 51st as the Merseysiders cruised past the relegation-threatened Clarets to remain fifth on the table, maintaining pressure on the top four.
It was a night for favourites in England's top flight with Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United all securing victories while Tottenham bounced back from their Capital One Cup loss to keep up pace with the top six.
League leaders Chelsea required a 22nd-minute goal from Eden Hazard to edge past London rivals West Ham United 1-0 and stay five points clear of reigning premiers City who had David Silva and James Milner to thank for their 2-0 home win over Leicester City.
Arsenal had a nervy finish to their clash with QPR at Loftus Road after going two goals up.
Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez struck in quick succession midway through the second half before Charlie Austin pulled one back for the R's but the Gunners managed to get the job done with a 2-1 triumph to retain third spot.
United produced a last-gasp 1-0 result over Newcastle United at St James' Park courtesy of Ashley Young's 89th-minute winner to keep fourth place to themselves.
Spurs were involved in an action-packed 3-2 win over Swansea City to recoil quickly from the League Cup defeat to the Blues on Sunday.
Nacer Chadli opened the scoring in the 7th minute, not long before Swans striker Bafetimbi Gomis collapsed, prior to Ki Sung-yueng responding for the visitors.
Spurs young guns Ryan Mason and Andros Townsend had the north Londoners 3-1 up by the hour-mark before a late Gylfi Sigurdsson effort had hearts racing at White Hart Lane.
But Mauricio Pochettino's men held on to return to the winners' list after two games without the maximum three piints.
And in the remaining fixture, Stoke City heaped more pressure on Everton with a 2-0 win at home to move up to eighth in the standings.
Goals from Victor Moses and Mame Biram Diouf each side of half-time snared the points for the Potters while extending the Toffees' winless league run to five.
2014/15 Barclays Premier League - season scores
QPR: 1 (Charlie Austin 82') Arsenal: 2 (Olivier Giroud 64', Alexis Sanchez 69') Loftus Road, London - 17,977
West Ham United: 0 Chelsea: 1 (Eden Hazard 22') Upton Park, London - 34,927
Manchester City: 2 (David Silva 45+2', James Milner 88') Leicester City: 0 Etihad Stadium, Manchester - 45,000
Newcastle United: 0 Manchester United: 1 (Ashley Young 89') St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 49,801
Stoke City: 2 (Victor Moses 32', Mame Biram Diouf 84') Everton: 0 Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent - 26,431
Tottenham: 3 (Nacer Chadli 7', Ryan Mason 51', Andros Townsend 60') Swansea City: 2 (Ki Sung-yueng 19', Gylfi Sigurdsson 89') White Hart Lane, London - 34,008
Liverpool: 2 (Jordan Henderson 29', Daniel Sturridge 51') Burnley: 0 Anfield, Liverpool - 44,717
