Cristiano Ronaldo increased his goal tally to 27 on the season as his double against Portsmouth saw Manchester United return to the top of the Premier League on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old claimed two goals in three minutes as United cruised to a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo put United ahead in the 10th minute when he beat the offside trap to collect Nani's pass and slipped the ball across David James.
The Portuguese added a spectacular second with an unstoppable free-kick over a static Portsmouth wall and into the net before James had even moved.
Chelsea equalled a club record of nine successive wins in all competitions, set in 2005 under Jose Mourinho, with a 1-0 success at home over Reading.
The victory means the Blues are now unbeaten in 75 consecutive league games at Stamford Bridge - and remain in third place.
Michael Ballack got the only goal of the game in the 33rd minute when he converted Paulo Ferreira's cross from the right with a towering header.
Everton and Tottenham shared a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park, with the hosts remaining in fourth place.
Andy Johnson came closest in the second half when he found himself unmarked in front of goal following a sharp turn - but his shot was saved by Radek Cerny.
Mark Noble scored an injury-time penalty to claim a 1-0 win for West Ham over Liverpool at Upton Park.
Noble kept his cool to convert the spot-kick, after Jamie Carragher brought down Freddie Ljungberg as the Hammers counter-attacked.
Liverpool remains without a league win since Boxing Day.
Derby shared a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at Pride Park, the visitors leapfrogging Liverpool into sixth place.
Derby took the lead immediately after half-time when Kenny Miller's shot, which was going wide, hit Sun Jihai and went into the net.
However, City replied through Daniel Sturridge in the 63rd minute - the teenager getting his second goal in two games when he converted from close range from Martin Petrov's left-wing cross.
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