Arsenal thumped Liverpool 4-1 while Manchester United also retained their slim title hopes by beating Aston Villa. Leaders Chelsea, though, maintained their lead at the top by beating Stoke 2-1.
Arsenal applied a little pressure to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea by sweeping away Liverpool before halftime at The Emirates where Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez were all on target.
Olivier Giroud sealed victory in the final minute after a Jordan Henderson penalty had raised the hopes of fifth-placed Liverpool, who also had Emre Can sent off late in the game.
Later, Ander Herrera scored twice and Wayne Rooney once with a spectacular strike as Manchester United moved above champions Manchester City into third place with a 3-1 home win over Aston Villa.

 EPL top scorers
  • 19 Diego Costa (Chelsea)                 
  •      Harry Kane (Tottenham)        
  • 17 Sergio Aguero (Man City)       
  • 16 Charlie Austin (QPR)  
  • 14 Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)              
  •      Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)              
  • 12 Wayne Rooney (Man United)      
  •      Saido Berahino (West Brom)
  •      Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Chelsea are now on 70 points from 30 games with Arsenal on 63 and United 62, both from 31 matches. Liverpool are drifting away on 54 points.
It was a good day for teams striving to avoid relegation with bottom club Leicester City 2-1 home winners over West Ham United and 18th-placed Queens Park Rangers crushing West Bromwich Albion 4-1 for a rare away win.
Hull City's worries deepened, however, after a 3-1 loss at Swansea City.
Southampton's hopes of a top-four spot look forlorn after a 1-0 defeat at Everton left them in sixth place.

Results:
  • Chelsea 2-1 Stoke
  • Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool
  • Everton 1-0 Southampton
  • Leicester City 2-1 West Ham United
  • Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa
  • Swansea City 3-1 Hull City
Source: Reuters