Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen combined to devastating effect to give Liverpool a priceless 1-0 win at Sunderland and keep them in the FA Barclaycard Premiership title race.
The midfielder's defence-splitting pass put the striker in on goal on 55 minutes and as Thomas Sorensen advanced, he produced a sublime chip to lift the ball over the keeper and into the net.
Jerzy Dudek produced fantastic saves to deny Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn while Nicolas Anelka hit the post for the visitors.
Sunderland's misery was complete in the closing minutes when Claudio Reyna was sent-off for a second bookable offence.
Leeds edged closer to a european place with a narrow 1-0 victory at Villa Park on Saturday.
Leeds kept up the pressure on fourth-placed Newcastle thanks to Mark Viduka's 29th-minute goal, which proved enough to see off Aston Villa.
Robbie Keane flicked the ball into Viduka's path and he stabbed the ball beyond Peter Enckelman from eight yards as David O'Leary's side took advantage of a slip from Newcastle.
Newcastle's chances of claiming the final place in the Champions League looked to have faded as Derby took a 2-0 lead early in the second half - but United fought back to snatch a 3-2 win late on at Pride Park.
Derby's faint hopes of climbing out of the Premiership relegation zone were boosted a minute into the second half at Pride Park when Malcolm Christie netted the opening goal.
Matters got even worse for Newcastle as Lee Morris struck after 53 minutes.
But Bobby Robson's side dug in and Laurent Robert halved that advantage after 73 minutes before Kieron Dyer looked to have rescued a point with 14 minutes to go.
There was more drama to come as Lomana Lua Lua scored the winner for Newcastle in the final minute to keep their hopes of Champions League football firmly on track.
Brian Deane struck twice in nine first-half minutes to give relegated Leicester a shock two-goal lead over Everton at Goodison Park - but the home side responded to claim a 2-2 draw.
Deane struck after 18 minutes to give boss Micky Adams the perfect start to his career in charge of the Foxes, curling a right-footed shot home from the edge of the penalty box.
The veteran striker doubled City's advantage after 27 minutes to give the Everton faithful plenty to worry about.
Nick Chadwick pulled Everton back into the game after 64 minutes before Duncan Ferguson levelled four minutes from time.
Teddy Sheringham broke the deadlock at White Hart Lane just seven minutes into the second period as he pounced to give Tottenham the lead over neighbours West Ham.
But Ian Pearce marked his 100th appearance for the club with the equaliser to claim a 1-1 draw.
Charlton's hopes of a top-10 finish were boosted by Richard Rufus' 17th-minute header which gave the Addicks the early lead.
But Rufus turned from hero to villain as he handed Southampton a 1-1 draw, deflecting Tahar El Khalej's effort into the back of the net.