Manchester United kept on the heels of Premiership league leaders Arsenal with a 3-1 win over bottom-placed West Brom.

A Paul Scholes goal followed quickly after a Ruud van Nistelrooy strike midway through the first half.

But United did not have things all their own way early on.

Jason Koumas capitalised on an error from Rio Ferdinand to put the Baggies 1-0 up after just six minutes.

But that was before the visitors - without the rested Ryan Giggs - took control and the result was put beyond doubt by United's third from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

West Ham moved off the bottom in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Newcastle.

Jermain Defoe looked to have bagged all three points for the Hammers on what proved a lively debut for Lee Bowyer.

TOP OF THE TABLE

Arsenal P22 | 46pts Man Utd P23 | 44pts Chelsea P23 | 41pts Newcastle P22 | 39pts Saints P23 | 36pts Everton P22 | 36pts Full table

But Newcastle left London with a share of the points after a 23-yard wonder-strike from Jermaine Jenas nine minutes from time.

Craig Bellamy, who signed a new contract with Newcastle this week, put the Magpies ahead on nine minutes before Joe Cole equalised for West Ham.

Aston Villa's Dion Dublin heaped on the misery for Gerard Houllier's Liverpool at Anfield.

Dublin bagged an equaliser for Villa in the 1-1 draw from the penalty spot just after the break.

Liverpool had been put ahead by Michael Owen just before the interval.

But his first goal since 2 November was not enough to give the Reds their first win in 11 league games.

Lee Bowyer challenges Olivier Bernard

Leeds United's mini-revival was given a jolt with a 2-1 defeat at on-song Manchester City.

Shaun Goater got the first after slotting home an Eyal Berkovic's slide-rule pass.

The second City goal was a breathtaking volley from Niclas Jensen after the break.

But most of the eyes at Maine Road were on substitute Robbie Fowler, who is believed to be City boss Kevin Keegan's number one transfer target.

City's Peter Schmeichel was beaten by Harry Kewell in injury-time but it proved to be just a consolation for Terry Venables' side.

Chelsea stayed in third place in the Premiership after brushing Charlton aside 4-1 on a dreadful Stamford Bridge pitch.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink put Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot after just three minutes.

William Gallas rifled the ball past Dean Kiely six minutes later.

Eidur Gudjohnsen got the third before Jason Euell gave Charlton a lifeline with a penalty before the interval.

Graeme Le Saux completed the rout after 54 minutes.

BOTTOM OF THE TABLE

Bolton P22 | 20pts Sunderland P23 | 19pts West Ham P22 | 17pts West Brom P22 | 16pts Full table

England hopeful James Beattie continued his rich vein of form with both goals in Southampton's 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough at The Riverside.

His 14th and 15th Premiership goals came either side of half-time before Boro conducted a superb comeback.

Noel Whelan got Boro's first before Massimo Maccarone fired home and gave Boro a share of the points.

Bolton and Fulham did little to help their chances of staying in the top-flight with a 0-0 draw at the Reebok.

Henrik Pedersen had two good first-half chances for Bolton as they dominated the first 45 minutes.

Facundo Sava found the net for Fulham after the restart for the resurgent visitors but his effort was ruled out for an infringement.

Sunderland ended a run of three straight Premiership defeats with a battling draw against Blackburn.

But the failure to beat Rovers keeper Brad Friedel means the Black Cats drop one place to go second from bottom.