Liverpool kept its first home clean sheet of the Premier League season in a 2-0 win over Watford as Mohamed Salah's double rescued the off-key Reds.
The manner in which Jurgen Klopp's men can win when out of sorts must be hard to swallow for second-placed Leicester, who drew 1-1 at home to Norwich City, and third-placed Manchester City — which won at Arsenal.
Chelsea failed to put pressure on the top three as it succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, but Sheffield United moved up to fifth after brushing Aston Villa aside in a 2-0 win.
Chris Wood's goal was enough to bring Burnley's three-match losing streak to an end, condemning Newcastle United to a first defeat in four league outings.
Meanwhile, in the late kick-off on Saturday, Sebastien Haller struck in the first half to secure West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini a much-needed 1-0 win away at Southampton.
Watford make Reds work for 16th straight home win
New manager Nigel Pearson left Anfield with every reason to be proud of his Watford side's performance on an afternoon when the Hornets had enough chances to claim a shock victory against the Premier League leaders.
Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue were guilty of wasteful finishing that let Liverpool off the hook and Salah made Watford pay in spectacular style.
The Egypt international curled a spectacular opener into the top corner after 38 minutes and then wrapped up a hard-fought win with a cheeky tap-in in the last minute.
The satisfaction Jurgen Klopp took from an ugly win was dulled by an injury to Georginio Wijnaldum, who suffered a muscle strain that looks set to rule him out of Liverpool's trip to Qatar for the Club World Cup.
Liverpool has now won 16 straight home Premier League games, with its lead up to 10 points.
Four defeats in five for Lampard's Blues
Bournemouth arrived at Stamford Bridge in the midst of a five-game Premier League losing streak but emerged with all three points after Dan Gosling's late goal clinched a surprise 1-0 victory over Chelsea.
Any hopes the Blues had of a return to strong domestic form following its 2-1 midweek victory over Lille began to fade as chances went begging while Bournemouth grew in confidence.
As the Cherries piled forward, Jefferson Lerma's looping header into the box six minutes from time found Gosling unmarked and he lifted the ball over Kepa Arrizabalaga and over the line.
Chelsea had 18 shots at goal throughout the match but failed to force an equaliser and Frank Lampard's men trudged off the field with a record of one win and four defeats in their last five Premier League outings.
Foxes come up short as winning streak ends
Teemu Pukki's third goal in four Premier League matches gave Norwich City the lead at King Power Stadium, where Leicester City's eight-match Premier League winning streak came grinding to a halt.
The Finland international fired Norwich ahead after 26 minutes, but their advantage did not last long, with Tim Krul palming Jamie Vardy's header into his own net seven minutes before half-time.
Daniel Farke's Norwich fought hard for their share of the points in a second half that saw Leicester heap pressure on their goal, attempting 12 shots on goal.
Ben Chilwell's cross forced a late corner from which substitute Harvey Barnes fired agonisingly wide for the hosts, who remain second in the table.
De Bruyne inspires City at Arsenal
Kevin De Bruyne produced a masterclass as Manchester City breezed to a 3-0 win over a listless Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. The Belgium midfielder scored two high-quality goals and provided an assist for Raheem Sterling in a one-sided victory for City.
Defending champion City is 14 points behind leaders Liverpool and four behind second-place Leicester City.
Arsenal remains in ninth – seven points off Chelsea in fourth spot – in a defeat that will have done little to enhance interim boss Freddie Ljungberg's prospects of landing the job on a permanent basis.
Greenwood rescues United
Mason Greenwood scored 13 minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw for Manchester United and deny Everton caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson a second consecutive Premier League victory.
United went into the game hoping to claim a third consecutive league win for the first time since January but David de Gea's failure to clear a first-half corner led to Victor Lindelof putting through his own net.
Everton defended resolutely as it sought to build on its 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Goodison Park, and the commitment shown by a side lacking a number of key players will raise inevitable questions about Ferguson taking the manager's job on a permanent basis.
But United substitute Greenwood produced the cutting edge in attack that the host had been lacking and his strike ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men extended their unbeaten streak to six league matches.
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