Aston Villa took full advantage of the absence of the other Premier League high-fliers on Saturday, winning 1-0 at West Ham United to climb to third.
A deflected James Milner shot 12 minutes from time gave Villa 34 points from 18 games and pushed them above Manchester United (32).
Liverpool, who lead on 38 points, visit Arsenal (fifth on 30) on Sunday while second-placed Chelsea (37) travel to Everton on Monday night.
Bolton Wanderers scored twice in the first three minutes en route to a 2-1 home win over Portsmouth while Fulham beat Middlesbrough 3-0.
Sunderland hit four for the second successive game and climbed out of the relegation zone when they triumphed 4-1 at Hull City.
In the evening game at Upton Park, Villa had the best of the first half but were on the defensive for most of the second as the hosts wasted several good chances.
The game seemed to be heading for a draw until Milner's speculative cross-shot hit West Ham defender Lucas Neill and looped over keeper Robert Green.
The own goal secured Villa's sixth away win of the season and condemned West Ham to their fifth home defeat.
"I'm delighted to be third," Villa manager Martin O'Neill told the BBC. "We created quite a number of chances on the break in the first half but the game was really open and could have gone either way.
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