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Arsenal were the biggest winners in The Premiership with a thumping 7-0 win over Middlesbrough, while Liverpool consolidated their place in third spot with a 1-0 victory over fourth place Tottenham.
Elsewhere Birmingham and Portsmouth remain in trouble at the wrong end of the table after defeats to Charlton and Everton respectively.
Arsenal piled the misery on struggling Middlesbrough with a memorable 7-0 victory at Highbury as Thierry Henty helped himself to a hat trick.
Arsene Wenger's men took full advantage of a weakened Boro line-up to race into a 4-0 half time lead.
Arsenal broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Henry brilliantly volleyed home Freddie Ljungberg's cross.
The Gunners doubled their lead two minutes when Philippe Senderos headed home Jose Antonio Reyes' corner.
Things got worse for Middlesbrough on the half hour mark when Henry netted his second and his side's third to put them in cruise control.
Pires got in on the act with a superb fourth right on the stroke of half time to leave Middlesbrough fearing the worst
Arsenal made it five just before the hour mark when Brad Jones let Gilberto Silva's header squirm through his hands.
The brilliant Henry completed his hat-trick on 68 minutes with another clinical finish and Middlesbrough's misery was compounded when Doriva was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Alexander Hleb put the icing on the cake six minutes from time with his first goal for the club.
Liverpool continued their fine form with Harry Kewell's brilliant strike earning The Reds all three points against Tottenham.
Kewell netted the only goal of the game on 59 minutes with a sublime volley from Steve Finnan's cross as he scored his first goal since December 2004 to ensure Liverpool made it eight home wins in a row.
Spurs ended the game with ten men with Paul Stalteri seeing red for a professional foul on Kewell late on.
Birmingham remain in the bottom two after a 2-0 defeat at Charlton.
Bryan Hughes came back to haunt his old club with the opener and Darren Bent wrapped up the victory with the second in the closing minutes with his 14th goal of the season.
Portsmouth suffered their first defeat at home under Harry Redknapp as Everton came away from Fratton Park with a 1-0 victory.
Leon Osman's scrappy goal proved enough to give improving Everton all three points and leave Portsmouth still in trouble
Fulham bounced back from last weekend's FA Cup upset at the hands of Leyton Orient with a 1-0 win over Newcastle at Craven Cottage. Steed Malbranque netted the winner for Chris Coleman's side 15 minutes from time.
West Ham came from a goal down to beat Aston Villa 2-1 and complete a league double over David O'Leary's men.
Lee Hendrie gave Villa the lead on 27 minutes with a cleverly flicked header, but the visitors drew level six minutes after the break when Zamora headed home from Paul Konchesky's free kick.
West Ham completed the turnaround when Harewood converted from the penalty spot on the hour mark after Mark Delaney was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
In the early afternoon kick-off Manchester City earned the bragging rights in the derby with Manchester United with a 3-1 win at Eastlands.
First half goals from Trevor Sinclair and Darius Vassell put City in control and things got worse for United when Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off on 66 minutes for a lunge at Andy Cole.
Ruud van Nistelrooy pulled a goal back for United, but City substitute Robbie Fowler made sure of the win with a third goal in the dying stages.
In the evening kick-off ten-man Bolton produced a resolute performance to earn a goalless draw with local rivals Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Hidetoshi Nakata was sent off in the first half for two bookable offences, but Bolton held on to take a point against Rovers.
Arsenal 7-0 Middlesbrough
Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham
Blackburn 0-0 Bolton
Charlton 2-0 Birmingham
Fulham 1-0 Newcastle
Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham
Man City 3-1 Man Utd
Portsmouth 0-1 Everton
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