Liverpool once again relied on a spectacular comeback to overcome a desperately unlucky Wigan side at Anfield. Rafa Benítez's men were trailing 2-1 with just 11 minutes remaining but late goals from Albert Riera and Dirk Kuyt mean they remain level on points with Chelsea, whom they play next Sunday at Stamford Bridge, at the top of the table.
It was the fourth time this season that Benítez's side have come from behind to win and, just as at Manchester City two weeks ago, it was Kuyt who scored a late winner. The Dutch international met a Jermaine Pennant cross with a volley into the ground that evaded Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal. It capped a remarkable comeback for Liverpool against 10-man Wigan, who had twice taken the lead in the first half.
Steve Bruce's side deservedly went in front in the 29th minute thanks to a horrendous mistake from Daniel Agger. The Dane attempted to take on Amr Zaki on the edge of his own area, but the Egyptian won the ball and was left with the simple task of slotting the ball under Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.
Agger made amends for his error shortly before half-time when he exchanged passes with Andrea Dossena on the left touchline, before cutting back the ball back for Kuyt to equalise.
Wigan went back into the lead shortly before the interval and again it was Zaki who was on target. Antonio Valencia's cross seemed to be going nowhere but the Egyptian produced a stylish scissors kick that stunned Anfield.
Wigan were reduced to 10 men when Valencia was sent off in the 75th minute after receiving his second yellow card for a two-footed lunge on Xabi Alonso. It was the third successive game that Liverpool's opponents have been reduced to 10 men; on each occasion it has been for a foul on Alonso.
Riera got the second equaliser — his first league goal for the club — with 10 minutes remaining, when he shot right-footed from the edge of the box after a clever Steven Gerrard step-over, and there was just enough time for Kuyt to claim an amazing winner.
Arsenal were also forced to come from behind against a resilient Everton side at the Emirates. David Moyes' side took a surprise first-half lead when Steven Pienaar pulled the ball back and Leon Osman was on hand to give Everton the advantage. Tim Howard was forced to be at his best when he made a stunning save from Robin van Persie, but he could do nothing when Samir Nasri equalised three minutes into the second half. The Frenchman shot past Howard from 25 yards to register his third goal since signing from Marseille in the summer
Van Persie put Arsenal in front when he fired in a rebound after Howard had saved from Cesc Fàbregas, who had been cleverly set up by Emmanuel Adebayor. Substitute Theo Walcott rounded things off when he exchanged passes with Abou Diaby and shot through the legs of Howard to secure all three points for Arsène Wenger's men.
Sunderland can count themselves unfortunate not to have come away from Craven Cottage with all three points after dominating against Fulham. Mark Schwarzer made a string of important saves to keep Roy Keane's side at bay.
Kieran Richardson hit the post with a first-half free-kick, and thought he'd gone one better and given his side the lead after the restart. But the referee Keith Stroud disallowed the goal for an infringement in the wall, leaving Keane and the rest of the Sunderland team perplexed. Djibril Cissé hit the crossbar in the last 10 minutes as Sunderland pressed, but in the end had to settle for a point.
Aston Villa and Portsmouth played out a goalless draw in a game that was marred by an injury to referee Mike Riley's assistant Phil Sharp, who appeared to be struck by an object thrown from the crowd. On the pitch Armand Traoré hit the post in the first half with Jermain Defoe putting the rebound over the bar. Sean Davis saw red for Portsmouth for two yellow cards, but neither side could find a breakthrough.
It was a stalemate between Bolton and Blackburn at the Reebok in the Lancashire derby. Jason Roberts missed the best chance of a first half in which Blackburn dominated when he headed wide when it seemed easier to score.
Bolton fought back in the second period and Andrew O'Brien should have scored but failed to make a decent connection from Matthew Taylor's in-swinging free-kick. Benny McCarthy hit the outside of the post for Blackburn with just three minutes remaining, but in the end a draw was a fair result.
