City avoids defeat at the Etihad

The English Premier League title chase 1 win over Chelsea at the Etihad on Wednesday.

Gary Cahill had given the visitors the lead in the 60th minute, but the Citizens overturned that margin in the span of eight minutes as Sergio Aguero equalized from the penalty spot in the 78th minute before Samir Nasri sealed the win four minutes from time.

The win restores City's one-point deficit behind Premier League leaders Manchester United. The Red Devils set the pace in England's top flight with 70 points through 29 games while Roberto Mancini's men improve to 69 points.

Juan Mata had a chance to put the visitors in front in the eighth minute following some fine individual play from Fernando Torres. Mata collected a pass from his fellow Spaniard in a good position but curled a wayward shot over the goal with his weaker right foot.

The Citizens immediately responded and came even closer to grabbing the opener. Nasri controlled a through ball on the run and floated a quick shot over the head of Petr Cech, but the ball rattled the crossbar before being cleared to safety by the Chelsea defense.

City hit the woodwork again in the second half when Aguero's effort from the left side of the box was pushed onto the crossbar by Cech. The rebound bounced back into play but was quickly turned out for a corner.

The home side was left to rue those two near-goals as Chelsea went on to break the deadlock against the run of play in the 60th minute.

The Citizens failed to clear their lines and Cahill was spot on to smash the loose ball toward goal. The shot took a slight deflection that wrong footed City goalkeeper Joe Hart on its way into the back of the net.

City eventually drew level when Mike Dean pointed to the spot in the 78th minute. The referee awarded the Citizens a penalty after a shot was blocked by the raised arm of Michael Essien, and Aguero made no mistake with the ensuing kick as he sent Cech the wrong way.

Eight minutes later, City completed the comeback to keep the title race wide open. Nasri netted the game-winner following a brilliant give-and-go in the box. The Frenchman drew Cech off his line and chipped a shot over the Chelsea 'keeper for his fourth goal of the Premier League season.

Chelsea fails to keep with Arsenal after the Gunners earned a 1-0 victory over Everton. The Blues remain in fifth place on 49 points.

Arsenal 1, Everton 0

Liverpool, England - Arsenal escaped Goodison Park on Wednesday with a 1-0 defeat of Everton to climb into third place in the Premier League.

Thomas Vermaelen provided the lone goal of the contest, nodding home a corner kick in the eighth minute to lift the Gunners, now on 55 points, above Tottenham in the league table.

Everton will feel a bit unlucky to come away with at least a point as Royston Drenthe was denied a first-half equalizer after he was harshly ruled offside. The Toffees have lost two straight and remain in 10th place on 37 points.

London, England - Tottenham needed a late goal from Rafael Van der Vaart to avoid its fourth straight defeat as Spurs played to a 1-1 draw with Stoke City at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

Cameron Jerome thought he had given the visitors all three points with a goal 15 minutes from time, but Tottenham's Dutch phenom popped up with an equalizer deep into second-half stoppage time to salvage a point for Spurs.

Tottenham improves to 54 points but drops out of fourth place in favor of Arsenal, while Stoke City goes on 37 points to sit tied with Everton and Sunderland.

QPR 3, Liverpool 2

London, England - QPR received a massive lift to its battle against relegation on Wednesday as it came from behind to defeat Liverpool, 3-2, at Loftus Road.

Sebastian Coates and Dirk Kuyt handed Liverpool a two-goal lead with only 18 minutes remaining, but QPR responded sensationally to claim all three points following late goals from Shaun Derry, Djibril Cisse and Jamie Mackie.

QPR now sits two points clear of danger with 25 points on the season, while Liverpool, which has lost four of its last five Premier League matches, sits seventh on 42 points.