Rafael Benitez endured another miserable day as nine-man Liverpool crashed 3-1 against Fulham, but Chelsea defeated Bolton for the second time in a week by 4-0. Liverpool's success over Manchester United last week was but a memory as the Reds have now lost six of their last seven games.
Goals from Bobby Zamora, Erik Nevland and Clint Dempsey earned Fulham the points after Fernando Torres had equalised just before the break.
Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher then both saw red within three minutes late on.
Chelsea moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League courtesy of a second 4-0 win of the week over Bolton.
Bolton were well in the game until just before the break when Jlloyd Samuel saw red for his challenge on Didier Drogba - Frank Lampard converted the spot kick.
Deco netted the second and Zat Knight scored an own goal before Drogba completed the scoring in injury time.
Struggling Hull did not enjoy any luck on their visit to Burnley, going down 2-0.
Graham Alexander scored with a debatable penalty and Geovanni then saw a brilliant free-kick controversially disallowed before two yellow cards saw him dismissed.
Alexander then struck from long range to make the points safe and continue the Clarets impressive home form.
West Ham raced into a two goal lead at Sunderland only for Andy Reid to reduce the arrears just before the break.
The Black Cats were then reduced to ten men after Kenwyne Jones was dismissed.
But Kieran Richardson salvaged a point and the Hammers then had Radoslav Kovac was sent off late on.
Portsmouth finally won at home, convincing 4-0 winners against Wigan thanks to Aruna Dindane's hat-trick and one from Frederic Piquionne.
Substitute John Carew salvaged a point for Aston Villa at Everton, levelling after Diniyar Bilyaletdinov put the Toffees ahead on the stroke of half-time.
Both teams finished with 10 men after Bilyaletdinov and Carlos Cuellar saw red late on in separate incidents.
Wolves came from behind at Stoke to earn a 2-2 draw.
A George Elokobi own goal and Matthew Etherington's strike put the home side two ahead at the break.
But defender Jody Craddock scored twice as Mick McCarthy's side earned a valuable point.
