Chelsea thrash Wolves to stay top.

Summary: Chelsea have beaten struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 to go eight points clear of Arsenal, who fell to a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.

Chelsea have beaten struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 in the Premier League to go eight points clear of Arsenal, who fell to a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.

Carlo Ancelotti's men now have 33 points from 13 matches to Arsenal's 25 from 12.

The Blues were 3-0 up after 22 minutes at Stamford Bridge, with Florent Malouda opening the scoring with a left-footed shot in the fifth. Michael Essien made it 2-0 with a 12th minute header and grabbed another ten minutes later.

Joe Cole made it 4-0 in the 56th, unleashing a low right-footed shot after a pass from Salomon Kalou for his first league goal in more than a year.

Sunderland had Darren Bent to thank for the 71st minute goal that stunned Arsene Wenger's high-scoring Arsenal.

There was also plenty of action at the other end of the table, with Hull City scoring three first half goals to come back from 2-0 down against relegation-threatened West Ham at the KC Stadium. Hull were then reduced to ten men in the 54th minute and the match ended 3-3.

Birmingham City moved further away from the drop zone by beating Fulham 1-0.

Aston Villa came from behind to draw 1-1 at Burnley to move into fourth place on goal difference.

Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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