Pompey, without a win in eight league games coming into this match, twice led through David Nugent and Hermann Hreidarsson but were pegged back by Rafael Benitez's troops thanks to goals from Fabio Aurelio and Dirk Kuyt.

Kuyt also had an effort chalked off for a debatable offside but that was academic in the end as Torres popped up with a header at the end to seal three points which take Liverpool a point clear of Manchester United at the summit, albeit having played two games more.

Chelsea dropped to fourth place after being held to a goalless draw by a well-drilled Hull side at Stamford Bridge.

Ricardo Quaresma made his Chelsea debut but failed to inspire the hosts to victory, while Phil Brown's Tigers were not afraid to take the game to their opponents and could have nicked all the points in the second half when Dean Marney fired just wide.

A section of the home support chanted 'You don't know what you're doing' at coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and then booed the team off at the final whistle.

Chelsea's costly slip allowed Aston Villa to move above them into third place after Martin O'Neill's men defeated Blackburn 2-0 at Ewood Park.

James Milner opened the scoring after 27 minutes while Gabriel Agbonlahor made sure of the victory in injury-time.

It could have been so much better for the visitors but Emile Heskey and Agbonlahor had efforts ruled out by referee Steve Bennett.

Newcastle produced a display to lift the spirits of manager Joe Kinnear, who was taken to hospital this morning after feeling unwell at the team hotel.

With Chris Hughton in charge, Newcastle posted a 3-2 win over West Brom courtesy of some abysmal defending by Tony Mowbray's side.

A defensive lapse by Leon Barnett allowed Damien Duff in to open the scoring for Newcastle after just two minutes, but Marc-Antoine Fortune levelled moments later.

Peter Lovenkrands restored the visitors' lead after nine minutes following more errors in the Albion back line, while Steven Taylor (41) made it three when he headed home Ryan Taylor's inswinging corner.

West Brom reduced the deficit through Fortune's second after 73 minutes but the hosts could not find an equaliser which would have lifted them from the foot of the standings.

On-loan Manchester City striker Jo scored twice as Everton ended a three-game winless run in the league with a 3-0 win over Bolton at Goodison Park.

Everton led at the break thanks to Mikel Arteta's 40th-minute penalty, awarded after Jo went down in the area under a challenge from Andy O'Brien.

Jo added to the Toffees' lead after 49 minutes when he pulled a high ball down into his path on the edge of the area and slotted home under Jussi Jaaskelainen, while the Brazilian increased the margin of victory with a late penalty.

Sunderland defeated 10-man Stoke 2-0 at the Stadium of Light thanks to late goals from Kenwyne Jones and David Healy.

Jones struck after 78 minutes, rising to head home Andy Reid's deep cross, although Stoke's former Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen should have saved at his near post.

Healy made sure of the three points with the Black Cats' second in injury-time.

Stoke played the final 25 minutes a man down after Matthew Etherington saw red for an off-the-ball clash with Danny Collins.

Wigan's clash with Fulham at the JJB Stadium ended goalless, while the day's early kick-off saw Shay Given pull off a string of important stops on his Manchester City debut as Mark Hughes' side posted a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Craig Bellamy scored the only goal at Eastlands after 51 minutes as Gareth Southgate's ailing Boro side saw their winless streak extend to 13 games.