Manchester City cut Manchester United's Premier League lead to four points by beating Fulham 2-0 yesterday thanks to a brace of goals from Spanish midfielder David Silva.
United are not in action until they visit Tottenham today and defending champions City took advantage to breathe fresh impetus into their title defence.
Silva broke the deadlock after just 96 seconds at the Etihad Stadium, slamming home from six yards after Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer parried a long-range shot from Edin Dzeko.
Steve Sidwell hit the post for the visitors in the 31st minute and City lost Pablo Zabaleta to injury before Silva added a second with 21 minutes left, gathering a Carlos Tevez flick and beating Schwarzer with a dinked finish.
Meanwhile, Liverpool reacted to last weekend's 2-1 loss at United in emphatic fashion by thrashing Norwich 5-0 at Anfield to close to within three points of the European places.
Jordan Henderson broke the deadlock with a vicious 26th-minute half-volley before home debutant Daniel Sturridge's clever dummy freed Luis Suarez to beat Mark Bunn for his seventh goal in three games against the Canaries.