Enda Stevens scored a terrific goal before being forced off with an injury at half-time as Sheffield United had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Brighton, for whom Shane Duffy made a welcome return to action.
The Blades had spent their winter break in Dubai, while their rivals had failed to stamp any authority on or make any notable headway in their absence in the race for the top four.
Chris Wilder's team were on their way to matching Chelsea's win against Tottenham earlier in the day when Stevens blasted them in front with an angled drive that soared into the top corner.
However, Neal Maupay, a summer transfer target for the Blades during the summer, quickly equalised.
It finished level despite a dominant second half showing from the hosts, with Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan making a superb point blank save at the end to deny Oliver McBurnie.
The draw keeps the Blades in sixth place although they moved level on points with fifth-placed Spurs, both of whom are now four points adrift of Chelsea in the final Champions League spot.
However, fifth place might be enough to qualify for Europe's biggest club competition if Manchester City's two-year European ban for breaching Financial Fair Play is upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The point edged Brighton further away from the bottom three but Graham Potter's side remain without a Premier League win in seven matches.
Duffy had an operation to have a blood clot removed from his leg last month but he got 90 minutes under his belt today, with Aaron Connolly coming off the bench in the second half.
