Michael Essien scored twice as Chelsea romped to a 4-0 victory over Wolves to stay well clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday, while Arsenal tumbled 1-0 at Sunderland. Liverpool and Manchester City fell further out of contention with a 2-2 draw.

Darren Bent scored Sunderland’s 71st-minute winner in a surprise victory over Arsenal, who had won six of their previous seven league games but were left on 25 points from 12 games. While Liverpool and Manchester City shared a point each at Anfield, the result did not help either team’s chances of catching Chelsea in the title race. Man City have 21 points and Liverpool 20.

Goals by Florent Malouda and Essien put injury-hit Chelsea 3-0 up inside the first 22 minutes before Joe Cole scored his first goal in 13 months in the second half. The result meant that Chelsea have won all seven home games and haven’t conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge since the opening game of the season against Hull. Chelsea has 33 points from 13 points and also have a club record 12 home wins in a row in all competitions.

Aston Villa came from a goal down to draw 1-1 at Burnley where they have not won in 24 visits dating back to 1936. Steven Caldwell gave Burnley a ninth-minute lead at Turf Moor only for Emile Heskey to equalise in the 86th.

Lee Bowyer scored Birmingham’s 16th-minute winner in a 1-0 victory over Fulham at St Andrews, and there was a six-goal thriller between Hull and West Ham. Visitors West Ham went two goals up in the first 11 minutes, only for Hull to hit back three times to lead at halftime. Hull’s Brendan Mendy was sent off in the 54th and Manuel Da Costa scored West Ham’s equaliser in the 69th.