Liverpool had returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League - for 24 hours - with a 3-2 win at Portsmouth thanks to Fernando Torres' injury-time goal.

Torres only came on with 15 minutes to go with his side chasing victory after David Nugent's opener had been cancelled out by Fabio Aurelio.

Hermann Hreidarsson restored Pompey's lead with a stooping header before Spain striker Torres set up Dirk Kuyt and then headed home in stoppage-time.

Benitez, who was without skipper Steven Gerrard, said: "I think we have enough quality. We knew it would be very difficult to stay top for a long time but we are still there and we want to be contenders to the end."

Pompey have not won a league game since November and are just one point off the relegation zone.

The future of boss Tony Adams has come under scrutiny and reports suggest he is set to leave Fratton Park this morning.

Assistant coach Ray Wilkins labelled a minority of Chelsea fans "out of order" after they hurled abuse at boss Luiz Felipe Scolari following the 0-0 draw with Hull at Stamford Bridge.

The result sees the Blues drop to fourth and a section of the home support chanted 'You don't know what you're doing' at the Brazilian coach and then booed the team off at the final whistle.

But Wilkins declared: "People do pay a lot of money to watch football and if they want to boo then by all means come and boo.

"But to say someone does not know what he is doing when he has achieved what he has in the game, is a tad out of order."

Aston Villa leapfrogged Chelsea into third following a 2-0 win at Blackburn.

Goals from James Milner and Gabriel Agbonlahor secured the victory which saw them set a new club record of seven successive away wins.

Jo scored two - one a penalty - and won a spot-kick on his debut as Everton established themselves in sixth with a 3-0 win over Bolton at Goodison Park.

Newcastle overcame the absence of boss Joe Kinnear, who had been taken into hospital after complaining of high blood pressure, to secure a vital 3-2 win at West Brom.

Damien Duff, Peter Lovenkrands and Steve Taylor scored for the Magpies with on-loan Marc-Antoine Fortune getting a double for the hosts who remain at the bottom of the table but just two points from safety.

Sunderland strikers Kenwyne Jones and David Healy plunged 10-man Stoke to fourth from bottom with a 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light.

Matthew Etherington was sent off for the Potters for kicking out at Danny Collins.

Craig Bellamy got the only goal as Manchester City beat Middlesbrough 1-0 although the hosts also had Shay Given to thank as the goalkeeper pulled off a number of top saves on his debut.

Wigan and Fulham played out a 0-0 draw.