Manchester United were the big winners as closest title rivals Chelsea dropped two points against Blackburn.
A second-half goal from Park Ji-Sung gave Manchester United a 2-1 win over arch rivals Liverpool to take them back to the top of the Premier League.
The Korean headed home bravely from close range following a superb Darren Fletcher cross to earn his side the points at Old Trafford.
Fernando Torres had put the visitors into a fifth-minute lead at Old Trafford with a towering header from Dirk Kuyt's cross, but Wayne Rooney soon equalised.
Manchester United vs Liverpool Player Ratings
Blackburn vs Chelsea Player Ratings
The England star netted his 33rd goal of the season, by scoring from the rebound after his penalty had been parried by Pepe Reina.
The spot kick had proved controversial with Javier Mascherano's foul on Antonio Valencia appearing to take place outside the penalty area.
Liverpool had a late chance to level but Torres was unable to control Steven Gerrard's cross. The ball looped up and Yossi Benayoun could only head straight at Edwin van der Sar.
United return to the top of the table, two points clear of Arsenal, with Chelsea now four back - albeit with a game in hand - after they could only draw 1-1 at Blackburn.
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El-Hadji Diouf punished the Londoners for failing to take their chances in the first half with a superb header to pull Rovers level 20 minutes from time.
However, Chelsea felt they should have been awarded a throw instead of Blackburn just prior to the goal.
Didier Drogba's 22nd Premier League goal of the season had given Chelsea an early lead but for large parts of the game Blackburn defended well, led by the outstanding Christopher Samba, while 18-year-old debutant Phil Jones did not look out of place alongside him.
In the day's other game, Manchester City turned the heat on Liverpool with a 2-1 win away to Fulham.
The hosts still had their famous victory against Juventus fresh in the mind when they found themselves behind to Roque Santa Cruz's opener, with Carlos Tevez then extending the lead before the break.
Fulham are comfortable in mid-table and boss Roy Hodgson illustrated his Europa League and FA Cup priorities by taking off key players - but Danny Murphy pulled a goal back from the penalty spot and they could have snatched a point in a frantic final period.
City stay fifth but are now only two points behind fourth-placed Spurs with a game in hand. Roberto Mancini's men are two points better off then Liverpool having played two games less.
On Saturday, Arsenal overcame the sending-off of defender Thomas Vermaelen to battle back to the top of the Barclays Premier League for a day with a 2-0 win over struggling West Ham.
Denilson fired the Gunners in front after only five minutes as Arsene Wenger's men looked to leapfrog Manchester United and Chelsea, who do not play until Sunday.
However, Vermaelen was deemed to have been the last man when he pulled down Guillermo Franco, and was shown a straight red card.
But Manuel Almunia saved Alessandro Diamanti's penalty and captain Cesc Fabregas made it 2-0 with nine minutes left from the same spot following a handball by Matthew Upson.
Stoke vs Tottenham Player Ratings
Arsenal vs West Ham Player Ratings
Substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen put Spurs ahead just 18 seconds into the second half when he nipped onto the end of a delightful chip from Peter Crouch to fire a left-foot shot into the roof of the net.
And things got worse for the home side four minutes later when Dean Whitehead was sent off for his second bookable offence after clattering Luka Modric in the centre circle.
But they drew level when Benoit Assou-Ekotto was adjudged to have fouled Dave Kitson in the box and Matthew Etherington sent Heurelho Gomes the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Assou-Ekotto redeemed himself, though, when he crossed for Niko Kranjcar to net the winner with 13 minutes remaining.
That saw Spurs capitalise on Aston Villa's draw against Wolves - a result which could have been even worse for Martin O'Neill's men.
John Carew salvaged a point for Villa after Wolves had looked set for their first win over their local rivals for 30 years, Jody Craddock's equaliser and James Milner's own goal putting them in front.
But Carew followed up his opener with his 13th goal of the campaign with only seven minutes remaining to make the final score 2-2, benefiting on each occasion from marginal offside decisions.
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Hull slipped closer to relegation after a late capitulation at rock-bottom Portsmouth.
After Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink had headed against a post, Craig Fagan's strike was deflected into the net by Caleb Folan to give Hull the lead in the 27th minute.
But Pompey were level 10 minutes later as Jamie O'Hara's cross following a short corner bounced into the path of Tommy Smith, who back-heeled past Boaz Myhill.
Folan restored the Tigers' lead, beating the offside trap and producing a composed finish across keeper David James.
But O'Hara levelled two minutes from time with a superb curler after a 20-yard free-kick and Richard Garcia's howler saw Nadir Belhadj tee up Kanu to seal a dramatic 3-2 win.
Hugo Rodallega's injury-time header saw Wigan boost their own survival hopes with a deserved 1-0 win over Burnley.
The Latics created the most meaningful chance of the opening 45 minutes when Gary Caldwell struck the right-hand post with a firm header.
There was a delay early in the second period when Latics keeper Chris Kirkland appeared to be struck by an object thrown from the crowd, moments after Wigan were denied a clear penalty when Leon Cort brought down James McCarthy.
Wade Elliott cleared Rodallega's looping header off the line but the Colombian was not to be denied when he met Victor Moses' 93rd-minute cross.
Darren Bent's early brace set Sunderland on their way to a 3-1 win over Birmingham.
The striker stabbed home the first inside five minutes after Benjani Mwaruwari's shot was blocked and jinked inside Scott Dann to add a fine second six minutes later.
Cameron Jerome ran onto Michel's superbly weighted through-ball to halve the deficit with a neat curling finish but Fraizer Campbell grabbed a late clincher for the Black Cats.
Everton eased to a 2-0 win over Bolton at Goodison Park.
Wanderers were reduced to 10 men when last man Gretar Steinsson bundled over Yakubu as he raced clear and Mikel Arteta stepped up to double the punishment by curling a superb free-kick over the wall.
Leon Osman then laid the ball back for Steven Pienaar to slam in a late second.
Match Reports
Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool
Blackburn 1-1 Chelsea
Fulham 1-2 Manchester City
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Aston Villa 2-2 Wolves
Stoke 1-2 Tottenham
Portsmouth 3-2 Hull
Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham
Wigan 1-0 Burnley
Everton 2-0 Bolton
Match Reactions (Video)
Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool
Blackburn 1-1 Chelsea
Fulham 1-2 Manchester City
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Aston Villa 2-2 Wolves
Stoke 1-2 Tottenham
Everton 2-0 Bolton
Wigan 1-0 Burnley
Portsmouth 3-2 Hull
Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham
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