LONDON: Carlos Tevez did his old side Manchester United a favour by scoring the winner as Manchester City beat leaders Chelsea 2-1 in the English Premier League on Saturday.

City’s win, which followed a run of seven straight league draws, cut fellow big-spenders Chelsea’s lead over second-placed United to just two points. Chelsea, knocked out of the League Cup in a shoot-out by Blackburn, suffered further penalty misery when, at 2-1 down with eight minutes left, Frank Lampard saw his spot-kick saved by Shay Given.

Chelsea took an eighth-minute lead when the ball fell to Nicolas Anelka, whose shot was saved by Given only for the rebound to hit Emmanuel Adebayor and go in for an own-goal. But Adebayor scored seven minutes before half-time when he struck from close range. Argentina striker Tevez then fired in a 56th-minute free-kick that wrongfooted Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Paul Scholes, Darron Gibson, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney scored as United earlier kept the pressure on with a 4-0 victory away to West Ham. Portsmouth won in the league for only the third time this season with a 2-0 over Burnley. Andrey Arshavin and Aaron Ramsey scored as Arsenal leapfrogged Tottenham into third place with a 2-0 win over Stoke.

Liverpool were held to a goalless draw away to Blackburn while Aston Villa maintained their push for European football with a 3-0 over Hull. Birmingham came from behind to beat Wigan 3-2 while Wolves defeated fellow relegation candidates Bolton 2-1.

At Fratton Park, second-half goals from Hermann Hreidarsson and Aruna Dindane saw Portsmouth first win under new boss Avram Grant.

Spanish La Liga

MADRID: Lionel Messi scored a brace as Barcelona won 3-1 at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday to restore their five-point advantage over Real Madrid at the summit.

Messi turned on the style scoring a brilliant opener and then heading a crucial 80th minute goal after Depor had equalised. It took Messi’s goals tally to nine alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic who scored Barca’s third goal in the closing stages. The champions now lead Real, 4-2 winners over Almeria, by five points having played one game more.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero and villain for Real Madrid playing a pivotal role in their 4-2 comeback win over Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu, only to be sent off late on for violent conduct. Ronaldo was the heart of everything, winning a dubious 82nd minute penalty, which he subsequently missed, before substitute Karim Benzema rammed in the rebound.

Ronaldo then scored his sixth goal of the season two minutes later to make it 4-2, after Gonzalo Higuain had equalised. Sergio Ramos had headed head in to give Real a first half lead but Fernando Soriano and Kalu Uche scored twice in six minutes to give the hosts a fright before they mounted their late comeback.

Earlier, Sevilla dropped two vital points in a 1-1 draw at home against 10-man Valladolid and they trail Barcelona by nine points.