Chelsea have moved back to the top of the English Premier football League and earned a valuable goal-difference boost by sweeping aside Stoke City 7-nil at Stamford Bridge.
A Salomon Kalou hat-trick, two goals for midfielder Frank Lampard, taking his season's league tally to 20, and one each for Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda lifted Chelsea to 80 points, one ahead of champions Manchester United, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 yesterday.
Chelsea, whose visit to Liverpool next weekend looks likely to be the decisive match, have hit seven three times this season and now have an eight-superior goal difference to United with two games each remaining.
Burnley lost 4-nil at home to Liverpool to seal their relegation, Aston Villa beat Birmingham City 1-nil to stay in the hunt for fourth place and Everton beat Fulham 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time Mikel Arteta penalty.