BPL : Goalless for 'Big Four'

Chelsea 0 - 0 Fulham

Chelsea squandered a great chance to pull clear of Liverpool at the top of the Barclays Premier League as stubborn Newcastle United held them to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea dominated the match but could not find a way to break the deadlock.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given saved superbly from Frank Lampard while Ashley Cole went agonisingly close with a header - but Chelsea failed to capitalise on Liverpool's home draw with Fulham. The Blues remain top on goal difference but failed to win at home for the second successive match.

Chelsea had a goal ruled out for offside in the 54th minute. Lampard's through-ball allowed Malouda to fire in a shot which Given stopped. Joe Cole bundled the loose ball over the line from an offside position.

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Manchester City 3 - 0 Arsenal

Arsenal suffered their fifth defeat of the Barclays Premier League campaign as they were well beaten at Eastlands. Their miserable week continued on Saturday as they lost 3-0 at Manchester City FC to all but drop out of the Premier League title race despite joint leaders Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC both being involved in scoreless draws.

Arsenal travelled north without Theo Walcott, ruled out for three months after suffering a shoulder injury on England duty, and captain William Gallas who had reportedly been omitted for disciplinary reasons. Arsène Wenger had called on his team to show their "mental resolve" against City, only to watch them fall to goals from Stephen Ireland, Robinho and a last-minute Daniel Sturridge penalty.

The spot-kick signalled Arsenal's biggest league defeat since they went down 4-1 at Liverpool on 31 March 2007.

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Liverpool 0 - 0 Fulham

Chelsea's draw and Arsenal's heavy defeat were the only things to cheer a frustrated Liverpool crowd as they saw their side waste a golden chance to take over the Barclays Premier League leadership by drawing 0-0 with Fulham.

Fulham, with one of the best defensive records in the top flight, have never won at Anfield and rarely looked like doing so this time. But their dogged performance claimed only their second away point of the season and also secured their third goalless draw in eight visits to Anfield.

Liverpool did not have Steven Gerrard around to save them this time, his torn groin muscle having a damaging impact on Rafael Benitez's side.Torres returned to the Liverpool starting line-up for the first time since the win at Manchester City. Two appearances as a substitute at Bolton Wanderers, and for Spain against Chile in midweek, confirmed his recovery from a hamstring problem.

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Aston Villa 0 - 0 Manchester United

Manchester United missed the chance to close the gap on Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea and Liverpool as Martin O'Neill's side deservedly ended their long-losing sequence against the Red Devils.

United could have cut the deficit to six points after the leading two were both held earlier in the day but a run of 14 successive victories over Villa came to an end. Villa were bidding to end a run of 25 league matches without a win against United stretching back to the opening day of the 1995-1996 campaign.

The fit-again Wayne Rooney squandered their best chance when he fired over from close range in the second half. United were seldom being seen as an attacking threat and when they did counter-attack the likes of Ronaldo and Rooney were being well policed by the Villa midfield and defence. BPL

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Current results;

Chelsea 0 - 0 Newcastle United
Liverpool 0 - 0 Fulham
Manchester City 3 - 0 Arsenal
Middlesbrough 1 - 3 Bolton Wanderers
Portsmouth 2 - 2 Hull City
Stoke City 1 - 0 West Bromwich A.
Aston Villa 0 - 0 Manchester U.
.......
Tottenham ? - ? Blackburn R.
Sunderland ? - ? West Ham United
.......
Wigan Athletic ? - ? Everton