TheCable

Chelsea were left frustrated after a difficult evening at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland, and dropped points for only the third time this season after playing 0-0.

The Blues were fortunate not to lose Diego Costa for a kick out on John O’Shea, although the Spain striker did pick up a booking for an elbow on Wes Brown and will miss the midweek clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea increased their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League to seven points with Southampton playing Manchester City on Sunday.

The result makes it four unbeaten for Sunderland, who move up to 13th.

Glen Johnson’s late goal ended Liverpool’s three-match losing streak to clinch a win against Stoke City at Anfield.

Captain Steven Gerrard was dropped to the bench on the 16th anniversary of his Liverpool debut and the Reds struggled without him.

Liverpool improved after Gerrard came on for the final 16 minutes and England right back Johnson scored the winner in the 85th minute after Rickie Lambert’s header had hit the bar.

At Old Trafford, Robin van Persie scored only his fourth goal for Manchester United this season as the Red Devils cruised to a 3-0 win over Hull City.

The win had its sour point as United’s injury problems continued early in the first half when Argentina midfielder Angel di Maria was forced to come off.

The host took the lead in the 16th minute as video technology showed Chris Smalling’s scrambled effort had crossed the line to give the defender his first goal since December 2013.

Club captain Wayne Rooney got the second goal, sweeping home from 20 yards in the 42nd minute, and van Persie netted in the 66th minute to seal a third successive win for the fourth-placed team.

Newcastle had climbed into the top five on the back of five successive league victories, but lost 1-0 to West Ham.

The Magpies fell behind in the 56th minute when Hammers left-back Aaron Cresswell turned in Cheikhou Kouyate’s miscued shot.

Newcastle’s hope of an equaliser were wrecked when midfielder Moussa Sissoko was sent off for earning two bookings in the space of 46 seconds in the second half.

QPR moved off the bottom of the table at the expense of fellow-strugglers Leicester, who slipped to 20th place after their 3-2 loss at Loftus Road.

Leicester had gone 503 minutes without finding the back of the net before Esteban Cambiasso’s low finish in the fourth minute but QPR equalised thanks to Wes Morgan’s 37th minute own goal before Dutch midfielder Leroy Fer put Harry Redknapp’s team ahead with his first goal for the club on the stroke of half-time.

Leicester’s Jeffrey Schlupp drove home a superb 67th minute equaliser, but Charlie Austin scored the winner with 17 minutes remaining.

Former England star Joe Cole marked his first start since December 2013 with the 38th minute opener for Aston Villa, who are without a win in nine games but Danny Ings equalised with an 87th minute penalty to add to the pressure on Villa boss Paul Lambert following the resignation of his assistant Roy Keane earlier in the week.

Swansea and Crystal Palace drew 1-1 at the Liberty Stadium, with Wilfried Bony’s 15th minute opener for the hosts cancelled out by a 25th minute penalty from Australia midfielder Mile Jedinak.