LONDON, England (AFP) – Chelsea cranked up the pressure on their Premier League title rivals by cruising to a 4-0 win over struggling Wolves yesterday.

Manchester United remained five points adrift of the leaders after beating Everton 3-0 at Old Trafford, but Arsenal stumbled significantly ahead of their meeting with Chelsea next Sunday.

A club-record 12th consecutive home win sent Chelsea eight points clear of both Arsenal, who crashed to a 0-1 defeat at Sunderland.

Florent Malouda opened Chelsea’s account with a 25-yard drive after five minutes and a Michael Essien double in the space of ten minutes ended the contest before half-time.

Joe Cole’s first goal of the season, 11 minutes into the second half, rounded off a near perfect afternoon for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

“It was an easy game because we played very well,” said Ancelotti, who was without Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack. “It shows we have a very good squad.”

Arsenal’s first defeat in 14 matches in all competitions came courtesy of Darren Bent’s 71st-minute strike for Steve Bruce’s side.

The England striker flicked on an Andy Reid corner then finished from close range when the ball rebounded back to him off Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell.

Liverpool and Manchester City’s hopes of challenging for the title were left looking remote after they settled for a 2-2 draw between them.

Liverpool, who have won only once in 10 matches in all competitions, are now 12 points adrift of Chelsea, while City trail the leaders by 11 points after drawing their last six league matches.

All the goals in a scrappy encounter at Anfield came after the interval. Martin Skrtel volleyed Liverpool into the lead five minutes into the second half.

Emmanuel Adebayor headed City back on to level terms and Stephen Ireland gave the visitors the lead only for substitute Yossi Benayoun to equalise barely a minute later.

Aston Villa climbed into the top four at the expense of Tottenham – who entertain Wigan today – after coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Burnley.

Scotland international Steven Caldwell’s ninth-minute strike had put Burnley on track for another win at Turf Moor, but Emile Heskey salvaged a point for Villa with four minutes left.

Elsewhere, Birmingham’s recent improvement continued with a 1-0 win over Fulham that gives Alex McLeish’s side some precious breathing space between them and the relegation zone.

Midfielder Lee Bowyer scored the only goal after being sent clear by James McFadden’s fine pass after 16 minutes.

The relegation battle between Hull and West Ham ended in a 3-3 draw.