Champions Arsenal slumped to their third defeat in eight days when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Blackburn Rovers, while Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Premiership with a win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal's spiralling problems were magnified as they succumbed to a third consecutive defeat, with Blackburn showing the character to emerge from a Highbury siege with a hard-earned 2-1 victory. Midfielder Edu may have redeemed himself on the stroke of half-time as he struck his side's equaliser after earlier gifting Blackburn the lead with an own goal.
But then Dwight Yorke struck what was to prove the winner shortly after the break and, amid a superb display by keeper Brad Friedel, Arsenal were unable to equalise even after Gary Flitcroft was sent off with 10 minutes left.
Premiership leaders Liverpool took full advantage of Arsenal's slip and extended their lead at the top to four points thanks to a 2-1 home win over Tottenham. Spurs - with Jamie Redknapp making his first return to Anfield following his move to White Hart Lane earlier this year - had frustrated the hosts before Danny Murphy opened the scoring with 18 minutes remaining.
Dean Richards levelled to briefly peg back the hosts, but Michael Owen continued his recent scoring streak by claiming the winner from the penalty spot.
Elsewhere, Olof Mellberg eased the pressure on Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor with a goal after 35 minutes, but Diego Forlan clinched his long-awaited first Premiership goal to earn Manchester United a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile Terry Venables was frustrated on his return to the Riverside Stadium as Leeds were held to a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough. Mark Viduka burst into the penalty area early in the first half only for fellow Australian Mark Schwarzer to haul him down. He dusted himself down and netted from the spot to give Leeds the lead.
Middlesbrough hit back after 25 minutes, with Joseph Desire Job converting Geremi's cross to send the sides in level at half-time. But Lee Bowyer put Leeds back in front after good work from Harry Kewell. Leeds striker Alan Smith got his marching orders after receiving his second yellow card, and Gareth Southgate claimed a point for Middlesbrough before Franck Queudrue was also dismissed.
After their morale-boosting win over Juventus in midweek, Newcastle were brought back down to earth with a bump by Charlton at St James' Park, who led thanks to Shaun Bartlett's goal on the half hour. But Andy Griffin struck seven minutes later to level the scores before United finally hit top gear in the second half with Laurent Robert's 59th-minute strike which gave the hosts a 2-1 win.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Graeme Le Saux both netted to give Chelsea a 2-0 win over West Brom at Stamford Bridge.
China international Sun Jihai scored his first goal in English football before Nicolas Anelka made sure of a vital three points for Manchester City from a 2-0 win at Birmingham.
