Aston Villa beat them 2-1 as defenders Richard Dunne and James Collins both scored with headers following corners by winger Ashley Young, after Didier Drogba had given the Blues an early lead.

"We are disappointed because I think we played a good match but we lost this game on the set-plays and I don't like to lose the game on the set-plays," said Ancelotti.

Manchester United took advantage of Chelsea's defeat to establish a one-point lead at the summit with a 2-1 victory over Bolton.

But Sir Alex Ferguson admitted United got themselves into a panic before surviving a later bombardment sparked by Matt Taylor's goal to scramble home.

"It was more tense than we would have liked. We made it hard for ourselves and we were panicking at times. But we got through it - just," he said.

Antonio Valencia then scored his first United goal since making his £17million summer move from Wigan.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce described his touchline clash with Rafael Benitez as "handbags" after Darren Bent's controversial goal delivered a fresh blow to Liverpool's title hopes.

Bent's eighth goal of the season flew past Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina after hitting a beach ball which had been thrown on to the pitch from the Liverpool fans.

"They have got it on telly with the guy who threw it on and it's got Liverpool crests all over it. What a shame," said Bruce.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lamented a knee injury to Theo Walcott which overshadowed the 3-1 win against Birmingham.

The England forward was making his first start of the season for the Gunners, having been sidelined since August because of a back problem.

However, following a strong, sliding challenge by Blues defender Liam Ridgewell, Walcott eventually hobbled out of the action just after the half-hour.

Robin van Persie, Abou Diaby and Andrey Arshavin fired Arsenal to a seventh successive victory.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp described his reception at Portsmouth as "fantastic" after Spurs triumphed 2-1 on his return to Fratton Park.

Former Pompey striker Jermain Defoe was dismissed for a stamp on Aaron Mokoena after doubling Spurs' lead before the break, with Kevin-Prince Boateng pulling a goal back after the interval to set up a tense finale.

"There was no trouble. I sat among the fans and they were fantastic, so it all got hyped out of nothing," said Redknapp.

James Beattie struck twice as Stoke increased West Ham's problems with a 2-1 victory while Everton and Wolves fought out a 1-1 draw.