Yaya Toure dragged champions Manchester City right back into the early Premier League running by firing a decisive late goal at Aston Villa.
The Ivory Coast midfielder stroked home in the closing stages to help secure a vital 2-0 win at Villa Park, cutting the deficit on league leaders Chelsea to two points.
Toure reacted to critics of his form by admitting he is only human, then pledging to help City chase down the Stamford Bridge outfit.
"I think it was amazing," Toure said of his match-winning strike. "The most important thing is for me to do my best. I'm keeping going: I play for a top side in Europe. And I'll just do my best to win things again this season.
"It's not so easy because you have to play every three days. I'm not a machine, I'm a man."
Chelsea host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge today, and a draw for City in the Midlands would have handed Jose Mourinho's men the chance to edge seven points clear of last term's Premier League winners.
David Silva pulled City's strings without reward while Villa remained resolute for the majority of the clash.
Manuel Pellegrini's men wrapped up the crucial victory as time ebbed away, though, with talisman Toure providing a laconic left-foot finish.
And once Villa's resolve was broken, hitman Sergio Aguero added a second, to take his tally for the new term to six.
Jordan Henderson secured Liverpool's first Premier League win in four matches after West Brom threatened to frustrate Brendan Rodgers' men at Anfield.The England midfielder latched on to Raheem Sterling's pass to set the Reds en route to their 2-1 victory, cancelling out Saido Berahino's penalty equaliser.
Adam Lallana fired his first Liverpool goal to the put the hosts in front, only for Dejan Lovren to fell Berahino in his own box. The England Under-21 cap blasted home his sixth goal of the season in all competitions, his fourth in three games following a brace against Burnley.
Former Sunderland man Henderson spared Liverpool's blushes six minutes later though, to end a run of four games without a win in all competitions.
Steven Fletcher ended a 14-match barren streak for Sunderland, finding the net twice in the Black Cats' 3-1 home victory over Stoke. Connor Wickham claimed his first of the campaign to put Sunderland ahead before Charlie Adam scored just his second goal in 17 matches for the visitors. Fletcher wrestled back the lead for Gus Poyet's men from a Jordi Gomez cross, before Wickham laid on his second.
Hull saw off in-form Crystal Palace with a 2-0 home victory, Mohamed Diame opening the scoring and Nikica Jelavic killing the game off near the end.
Ross Wallace's last-gasp free-kick earned Burnley a 2-2 draw with Leicester at the King Power Stadium.
The hosts were heading for victory thanks to goals from Jeff Schlupp and Riyad Mahrez, but Wallace's late leveller stole a point for Burnley.
The hosts took the lead with Schlupp firing his first Premier League goal before Michael Kightly equalised. Leicester hit back just a minute later though, with Mahrez heading home, only for Wallace to square things again at the death.
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