Luiz, Ramires on target as Chelsea ease past City

Liverpool beat Sunderland to stay on course for Europa League spot

A game of few chances was meandering towards a goalless draw until the Brazilian defender earned a free kick and glanced in Didier Drogba's cross to cap another impressive all-round display.

Midfielder Ramires capped things off with a well-taken breakaway goal in stoppage time. The win took Chelsea to 54 points, one point and one place above City with a game in hand. Arsenal are second on 58 points with Manchester United top on 63.

Great goal

Liverpool maintained their chase for a Europa League slot as a fortunate Dirk Kuyt penalty and a great goal by Luis Suarez secured a comfortable 2-0 Premier League win at Sunderland.

Liverpool were gifted the lead after 33 minutes when John Mensah brought down Jay Spearing just outside the box only for the referee to award a penalty, which Kuyt duly converted.

Suarez made the game safe in the 77th minute when he cut in from the right and, almost from the byline, lashed in shot inside the near post of Simon Mignolet.

Sunderland, who have taken only one point from their last six games, barely created a chance all day but were on the end of another harsh decision five minutes later when Mensah was sent off for bringing down Suarez on the edge of the box after the mildest of collisions.

After being knocked out of the Europa League by Braga on Thursday, sixth-placed Liverpool's only chance of European football next season is if they can finish in the top five and Sunday's win takes them to 45 points, four behind current fifth-placed team Tottenham Hotspur.

United maintained their top spot with a 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. Alex Ferguson’s men extended their lead to  five points as Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by a resilient West Bromwich Albion. The Gunners, however, had a game in hand.