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Chelsea ripped apart Premier League title rivals Arsenal in a 6-0 mauling at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to ensure Arsene Wenger's 1,000th game turned sour and Liverpool and Manchester City kept up the pressure with big wins.
Yaya Toure scored a hat-trick including two penalties as City wrapped up a punishing 5-0 win over bottom club Fulham and Luis Suarez's prolific run continued with three goals as Liverpool twice came from behind to thrash Cardiff City 6-3.
The goals were spread about for Chelsea as Samuel Eto'o, Andre Schuerrle, Eden Hazard, Oscar (2) and Mohamed Salah were on target for the leaders in a match likely to be remembered for a bizarre refereeing blunder as much as Chelsea's cut and thrust.
Official Andre Marriner flashed a red card at Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs for a handball on the goalline by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The sending-off did little to affect the destination of the points, however, as Arsenal were already 2-0 down when Gibbs was dismissed and Hazard stepped up to convert the resulting penalty to make it 3-0 after just 17 minutes.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho extended his unbeaten record against his bitter managerial rival to 11 games and the league leaders moved seven points clear of third-placed Arsenal having played a game more.
This was Arsenal's biggest defeat since they were thrashed 8-2 by Manchester United in 2011 and will feature high on Wenger's list of worst performances in his 17-1/2 years in charge.
It was the second time in six weeks that Arsenal had visited a major title rival and left with their tails between their legs after their 5-1 thrashing by Liverpool last month.
In a similar vein to that encounter, their defence was all at sea in the early stages, allowing Chelsea to effectively wrap up the points within minutes of the kickoff.
"We started incredibly," Mourinho told BT Sport. "Seven minutes gone we were 2-0 up, it's game over.
"We started very strong. I sent the message across that it was very important that we really want Arsenal to feel not comfortable.
"The way they play. We managed to do that...we were too strong for them."
The visitors had the first chance with Olivier Giroud forcing a smart save from Petr Cech after four minutes but seconds later they fell behind.
SUPERB FINISH
With Arsenal over-committed, Chelsea sprung forward quickly and Schuerrle fed Eto'o in acres of space on the left of the penalty area.
The experienced striker cut inside a half-hearted challenge and curled a superb left-foot finish into the corner.
With the Arsenal defence in disarray, Chelsea struck another rapier-like blow after seven minutes, again exposing Arsenal's open left flank with Schuerrle this time applying the finish with a low drive across Wojciech Szczesny into the corner.
It was then Marriner's turn to rival Arsenal's blundering backline for the day's costliest error as he flashed a red card in Gibbs's direction after Oxlade-Chamberlain had made a diving fingertip save on the line to deny Hazard.
Replays showed an incredulous Oxlade-Chamberlain mouthing "it was me" at the official, but the decision stood and Gibbs trudged to the touchline before Hazard calmly stroked the penalty down the middle of the goal after 17 minutes.
Mourinho, often the quickest out of the blocks to criticise officials, this time came to their defence.
"There were lots of people in box," he said. "From the bench you couldn't see, one of my assistants said it was (Mikel) Arteta, one said Chamberlain. The penalty is a penalty and the red card is a red card, but the wrong player."
The match was over as a contest but Chelsea continued to toy with their opponents, adding a fourth through Oscar who was set up by Fernando Torres to finish from close range three minutes before the break.
Arsenal's calamitous afternoon was neatly encapsulated when Szczesny made a hash of saving Oscar's curling shot which bounced up off the ground before tamely finding the net.
Salah came off the bench to slot his first goal for the club under the Arsenal keeper for Chelsea's sixth.
FULL TIME
Chelsea 6 (Eto'o 5" Schurrle 7" Hazard 17" Oscar 42" 66" Salah 70) Arsenal 0
It will be a night to forget as soon as possible for Arsene Wenger. It was his 1000th match as Arsenal manager but instead of celebrating it with a win, or even a draw, his side were thumped methodically by Chelsea who now go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Down to 10-men by the 17th minute at the Stamford Bridge, Arsenal were all at sea against a side which has been improving day by day.
Eto'o got the breakthrough as early as the 5th minute when his deft touch and superb placement was a delight to watch. Schurrle added to the tally two minutes later with another timely placement giving Szczesny in the goal no chance whatsoever.
Had Rosicky scored prior to these goals it might have been a different story but Cech came up with a timely save and that transformed the game.
Thereafter it was one-way traffic as Oscar (2), Hazard and substitute Salah scored to ruin whatever plans Wenger might have had for a party tonight.
89" Mourinho walks off which means there will not be a handshake with Wenger.88" Rosicky has a shot but Cech palms it away the rebound goes to Jenkinson but he boots it over.
87" Arsenal have a chance to pull one back but fail to make good their free-kick, the ball just floating in the Chelsea box with no Arsenal play at hand to score.
83" Schurrle's powerful shot from 25 yards is just off the mark. Arsenal must be waiting for the final whistle.
81" Szczesny has had a torrid time under the Arsenal goal. But for his brilliance the Gunners would have been down by a bigger margin.
80" Chelsea are keen not to settle for anything less. And with 10 minutes to go show signs of scoring more goals.
Chelsea 6 (Eto'o 5" Schurrle 7" Hazard 17" Oscar 42" 66" Salah 70) Arsenal 0
70" GOAL! Mohamed Salah who just replaced Oscar made his presence felt by capitalising on another defensive lapse to score.
Chelsea 5 (Eto'o 5" Schurrle 7" Hazard 17" Oscar 42" 66") Arsenal 0
66" GOAL! Oscar scores his second and Cheslea's fifth and then is substituted to a round of applause.
62" Torres is at his best here with his dribbles and body feints and then passes to Oscar whose shots is tipped over by Szczesny but the ref awards a goalkick.
Mourinho is upset with his boys for letting Cazorla even have a shy at goal.
60" Arsenal do well to keep possession of the ball and Cazorla almost finds the net from an acute angle but the ball sails just wife of the goal.
57" With minutes ticking away and no sign os Arsenal coming any closer to scoring their fans have started making their exit slowly.
52" YELLOW CARD! Tomas Rosicky goes for a dangerous tackle and brings down Cesar Azpilicueta with a solid lunge and is rightly punished.
47" Czszesny brings off two saves from close distance to deprive Torres first and then Luiz.
46" Wenger makes two changes bringing in Jenkinson and Flamini in for Oxlade and Koscielny.
HALF TIME
Chelsea 4 (Eto'o 5" Schurrle 7" Hazard 17" Oscar 42") Arsenal 0
Chelsea hit 10-man Arsenal like a bolt out of the blue with four goals to spoil Arsene Wenger's lardmark 1000th game in the Premier League at the Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
After Arsenal began well with Rosicky coming close to scoring in the 6th minute only to be foiled by an excellent save from Cech from the counter Chelsea scored and there was no loking back after that.
Eto'o, who scored against Galatasaray in the Champions League match a few days ago, showed sublime touch once again when he collected the ball on top of the box with his right foot, foxed a defender, pulled the ball to his left and placed it superbly past goalkeeper Czszesny's outstretched hands.
Two minutes later Schurrle added to the tally and when Gibbs committed a hand ball and Hazard scored from six yards it was all over bar the shouting for the Arsenal fans.
Down to 10-men after Gibbs was shown the red card there was nothing much they could do as Chelsea looed in total command of the game with Oscar giving them a 4-0 curshion at the breather.
Wenger will have to pep talk his boys from giving it a at least a fight as making a comeback from such a situation with just 10 players looks highly improbable.
47" Rosicky has a feeble shot at goal but is well taken care of by Cech.45" Arsenal look frustrated here and it shows as Giroud slams his shot into the side netting.
Chelsea 4 (Eto'o 5" Schurrle 7" Hazard 17" Oscar 42") Arsenal 0
42" GOAL! Oscar scores to almost end Wenger's party.
40" Just five minutes to go for the breather. What different can Wenger do as his fans are dumbstruck to see the proceedings.
38" Schurrle tests Szczesny again with alow shot and the goalkeeper responds with alacrity.
35" 10-man Arsenal are finding it difficult to come up with any breakthroughs. Their best bet was the one by Rosciky.
30" Szczesny brings off a stupendous save from David Luiz.
27" Rosicky tries to stumble in the Chelsea box in the hope of getting a penalty. Probably that's the only way Arsenal can score now.
24" Chelsea look like scoring more goals as Arsenal are yet to get their defence organised.
19" Arsenal make a change bringing in Thomas Vermaelen for Lukas Podolski.
RED CARD! There is confusion about the red card. The shot was going wide but referee Andre Marriner has shown a red card - to the wrong player! Kieran Gibbs goes off, it should be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
14" Chelsea look like scoring again and there is call for a penalty as Oxlade seems to have handled the box inadvertently..
10" Big blow for Chelsea as goalscorer Eto'o walks off injured and is replaced by Torres.
Chelsea 2 (Eto'o 5" Schurrle 7") Arsenal 0
7" GOAL! Cheslea are out to spoil Wenger's party as Schurrle scores this time with another angled shot to which galkeeper has no answer.
Chelsea 1 (Eto'o) Arsenal 0
5" GOAL! Eto'o shows some superb footwork. Collecting the ball on top of the box he dribbles past a defender puts the ball to his left and places the ball to the far right corner past a diving Szczesny.
4" Petr Cech brought off a brilliant save diving full length to his left after a Rosicky tried to find the corner of the net.
3" Eto'o a bit late to reach the ball as goalkeeper Szczesny charges out to just get his hand to a cross.
It's a noisy atmosphere at the Stamford Bridge.
2" Both teams yet to settle down as the ball is more in midfield.
Yes, the match gets underway as Chelsea set the ball rolling.
Wenger has taken his seat in the dugout and probably looking for his 573rd win. Mourinho gives him a friendly handshake.
Kick -off is five minutes away.
As we know, Arsene Wenger has not beaten a side managed by Jose Mourinho in 10 attempts but Arsenal do have the best away record in the Premier League this season, picking up 29 points on the road.
Mourinho says he is not concerned about the record at Stamford Bridge he is only concerned about winning.
Fifteen minutes to go for this derby so if your watching it in the UAE get your coffee ready and don't take your eyes off from what is expected to be a lively contest between the arch-enemies.
Both teams take to the field for some light workouts. Arsenal need to win this one to keep Chelsea in hot pursuit.
Arsene Wenger being the modest manager that he is says he is more concerned about getting a positive result than focus on his 1000th match as Arsenal coach.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leads the Arsenal players out to warm-up. Chamberlain has been in fine form in recent weeks and could be playing his way into Roy Hodgson's starting XI against Italy in Manaus.
Another good showing today would boost those chances.
STARTING XI
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, Matic, Cahill, Terry, Schurrle, David Luiz, Eto'o, Oscar, Hazard.
Subs: Lampard, Torres, Mikel, Salah, Ba, Schwarzer, Kalas.
STAT ATTACK
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last four Premier League games against the Gunners.
Arsenal have a good record at Stamford Bridge, winning almost a third of their 76 league visits.
The Gunners have also outscored the Blues at the Bridge, with 100 goals to 95.
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea: Jose Mourinho has confirmed Chelsea will be without former Arsenal defender Ashley Cole, who is continuing his recovery from a knee ligament injury.
Midfielders Ramires and Willian are suspended as a result of their dismissals at Aston Villa last weekend.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has just one new concern, with Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky to face a fitness test.
The Gunners have long-term absentees in Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby.
PREVIEW
Chelsea are riding a high way. They have everything going in their favour.
Under Jose Mourinho they are yet to lose at Stamford Bridge. They currently top the Premier League table with 66 points from 30 games, and if that is not all, they have also qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Fans know they have their plates full with today's lunchtime derby between the Blues and Arsenal which is sure to whet their appetite.
But more importantly, it is the 1,000th match that Arsene Wenger will be in charge of the Gunners and that makes for a perfect dessert.
No wonder tickets sold out like strawberries and cream. Now it's a matter of Wenger's boys making it a memorable milestone for the Frenchman.
Agreed Wenger has gone without a trophy for nine seasons - his last silverware came in the 2005 FA Cup.
That apart he has won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, and qualified for the Champions League in 16 consecutive seasons from the time he took over the club in 1996.
But a victory today could give him some hope that his side is in contention for the EPL title along with Cheslea, Liverppol and Manchester City.
Wenger, who will match the achievements of former Manchester United bosses Alex Ferguson and Matt Busby and Dario Gradi at Crewe Alexandra by reaching the four-figure milestone at one club, said he would approach the game just as he has done the previous 999 since arriving in north London in 1996.
"It's a privilege and an honour to manage 1,000 games at this club," the 64-year-old, who received a gold cannon from Arsenal chairman Chips Keswick on Friday, told a news conference.
"We are on a good run," added Wenger. "It is the game of the season for us - it's as simple as that.
"The result will be linked with the performance of the day. We are in a period where every point is vital now, especially against your direct opponents."
Wenger is still to sign a contract extension but spoke of leading the club into a new era.
"We have great players so I'm confident we can win trophies," Wenger said.
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