Following the Blues' worst top-flight run for more than a decade, Florent Malouda scored his first league goal for more than two months to send the faltering champions back into the top four and ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Didier Drogba also hit the post but was forced to clear off the line as Bolton had enough chances to snatch a point.

Liverpool's woeful season continued as bottom-placed Wolves beat them 1-0 at Anfield to lift themselves off the foot of the table.

Snowy weather had forced the postponements of games against Fulham and Blackpool, meaning the Reds had not played in the league for 18 days.

That showed as they lacked invention and energy - even with the return of Steven Gerrard from six weeks out - but the visitors did have that spark and ended a run of six successive defeats away from home thanks to Stephen Ward's first Premier League goal in the 56th minute.

A mix-up between Martin Skrtel and Sotirios Kyrgiakos allowed Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's through-ball to squeeze between them and Ward raced in behind to poke home the first goal conceded at Anfield in 478 minutes in all competitions.

Arsenal missed the chance to go level at the top with Manchester United and Manchester City as they could only draw 2-2 at 10-man Wigan as Sebastian Squillaci scored a late own goal.

The Gunners were leading 2-1, with Charles N'Zogbia having been red-carded for Wigan for a half-hearted headbutt, only for the home side to level through Squillaci's attempt at a headed clearance.

Ben Watson's penalty had given the home side a deserved lead but Arsenal replied through Andrey Arshavin's brilliant scissor-kick and Nicklas Bendtner's calm finish.