Liverpool equalised to grab a decisive away goal in the Champions League clash during the week but it was Rafael Benitez's side who struck first in the early kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.

Crouch exchanged passes with Yossi Benayoun in the 42nd minute before he struck the ball past goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and into the bottom-left corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Nicklas Bendtner pulled a goal back in the 54th minute for Arsene Wenger's side when he headed home a Cesc Fabregas free-kick.

The home side pressed for a winner in the second of the trilogy of matches but were unable to find a way past a stubborn Liverpool defence and are now five points behind leaders Manchester United having played an extra game.

Richard Dunne turned a Nicolas Anelka cross past his own goalkeeper in the sixth minute to give Chelsea a 1-0 half-time advantage over Manchester City at Eastlands.

Ryan Taylor's 15th minute-strike gave Steve Bruce's Wigan a 1-0 lead over his former side Birmingham, who were reduced to 10 men, at the interval.

Antonio Valencia broke down the right flank and found Taylor inside the penalty area and he slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net.

The visitors' problems were increased further at the JJB Stadium after they had captain Damien Johnson sent off for a nasty tackle on Josip Skoko.

A close-range header from Gareth Barry gave Aston Villa a one-goal lead over Bolton at the break.

Ashley Young delivered a dangerous cross from the left and Barry powerfully headed the ball past Bolton goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi in the ninth

Goals from Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen gave Newcastle a 2-0 half-time lead over Reading at St James' Park.

Martins broke the deadlock after he controlled Nicky Butt's pass then rounded Andre Bikey before he fired past Marcus Hahnemann in the 18th minute.

Owen doubled the advantage two minutes before the break when he lifted the ball over Hahnemann after he was found by Habib Beye.

A glancing header from Danny Collins off a Daryl Murphy cross moments before the half-time whistle gave Sunderland a 1-0 lead over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Morten Gamst Pedersen's strike cancelled out Dimitar Berbatov's early goal to leave the scores locked at 1-1 between Blackburn and Tottenham at Ewood Park.

Berbatov broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when he latched on to Jermaine Jenas' pass and bundled the ball home from six yards out.

But Pedersen pulled Mark Hughes' side level in the 30th minute when he comfortably tapped home a David Bentley cross home from inside the six-yard box.