LONDON: Liverpool’s English Premier League title hopes suffered a huge setback as they lost 3-1 away to Fulham today and finished the match at Craven Cottage down to nine men.

Liverpool’s sixth loss in seven matches left them nine points off the top of the table. In all eight red cards were flashed in Saturday’s matches — a record for one day in the Premier League. Table-toppers Chelsea extended their lead over United with a 4-0 win away over Bolton Wanderers. Victory, their second 4-0 success over Wanderers this week, left Chelsea five points in front of United. Earlier, Arsenal enjoyed bragging rights in north London after a 3-0 derby win over Tottenham Hotspur.

At the other end of the table, basement club Portsmouth won in the league for only the second time this season, beating Wigan 4-0 at Fratton Park with Aruna Dindane scoring a hat-trick. Second-bottom West Ham drew 2-2 with Sunderland, also the scoreline in Stoke’s match against Wolves. Everton and Aston Villa, who both had a player sent-off, drew 1-1 at Goodison Park. Burnley added to the pressure on Hull manager Phil Brown with a 2-0 victory over the relegation candidates at Turf Moor.

At Craven Cottage, Fulham went ahead against the run of play when striker Bobby Zamora turned in a Damien Duff cross in the 24th minute. But before half-time Liverpool were level with Spain’s Fernando Torres pouncing after Andriy Voronin’s header came back off Aaron Hughes. However, Fulham regained the lead when Norway’s Erik Nevland struck from close range in the 73rd minute. Worse followed for the Reds with defenders Phillip Degen and Jamie Carrragher sent-off for fouls on Clint Dempsey and Zamora respectively. And

Fulham wrapped up the match when Dempsey netted three minutes from time.

Chelsea took the lead on the stroke of half-time through a Frank Lampard penalty after Bolton’s J Lloyd Samuel was sent-off for a foul on Didier Drogba. And Chelsea doubled their lead after Deco scored in the 61st minute. Zat Knight’s own goal and Drogba’s late effort made it 4-0.

Earlier, Robin van Persie scored twice as Arsenal put Tottenham’s title aspirations in perspective. The Dutchman put the Gunners ahead in the 42nd before Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas stole possession from the re-start and surged through the visitors’ defence before sliding his shot past Heurelho Gomes. Van Persie piled on the misery for Harry Redknapp’s team in the 60th minute.