Arsenal's Kolo Toure (left) celebrates scoring against Bolton Wanderers during their English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium yesterday. Arsenal won 2-0 to maintain their lead atop the standings.- Reuters

LONDON, (Reuters):

LIVERPOOL SCORED in stoppage time to beat Everton 2-1 in a dramatic Merseyside derby yesterday at Goodison Park as the hosts ended the match with nine men.

Sami Hyypia's own goal after 38 minutes gave Everton the lead in the 206th meeting between the city rivals, but fortune favoured Liverpool after the break as two Dirk Kuyt penalties got their title challenge back on track.

The top seven in England all won with Arsenal maintaining their two-point lead over Manchester United, thanks to a 2-0 home defeat of Bolton Wanderers, who slipped to the bottom.

11 wins in a row

Kolo Toure from long range and a Tomas Rosicky tap-in broke Bolton's resistance after the break as Arsenal made it 11 wins in a row in all competitions.

United conceded their first goal in more than 10 hours as they fell behind at Aston Villa, but stormed back with three goals in nine minutes before the break as Villa imploded.

Wayne Rooney was twice on target in the 4-1 victory with Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs also chipping in. Villa had Nigel Reo-Coker and goalkeeper Scott Carson sent off after the break, while Rooney had a penalty saved.

Didier Drogba's future at Chelsea has been under a cloud but he scored the opener for the seventh-placed Blues as they continued their improvement with a 2-0 cruise at Middlesbrough.

Manchester City remain third after a 1-0 home defeat of Birmingham City courtesy of another goal from Brazilian Elano.

Portsmouth, in fifth spot, beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 away while sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers beat Reading 4-2.

Derby County are off the bottom with a 0-0 draw against a Fulham side who played half the match with 10 men after Paul Konchesky was sent off for elbowing.

Arsenal lead the table with 25 points from nine games six of those have been at home. United have 23, City 22 and Liverpool 19.

West Ham United host Sunderland today with third bottom Tottenham Hotspur in action at Newcastle United tomorrow.