Liverpool beat Bolton to maintain challenge

(CNN) -- Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 victory at Bolton in the early kick-off to return to the top of the English Premier League before being displaced on goal difference by Chelsea, who won 3-0 at West Bromwich Albion in Saturday's late match.

The disappointment of their League Cup defeat at Tottenham in midweek was swept away, as goals from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard put Liverpool back on track.

Champions Manchester United revived their title defense with a 5-0 thrashing of Stoke City, but Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa.

At the Reebok Stadium, Kuyt went close to putting Liverpool ahead in the 24th minute but his effort from Gerrard's cross crashed against the crossbar.

However, the Dutchman made amends five minutes later when he rose to send a looping header into the top corner from Fabio Aurelio's pinpoint cross.

Liverpool began to assert their authority and Robbie Keane managed to miss an open goal from two yards before Dan Agger flashed a 25-yard effort just wide of the far post.

Bolton had an effort from Gary Cahill disallowed seconds before the break when he headed home a corner, with referee Rob Styles insisting that goalkeeper Jose Reina had been fouled seconds earlier.

The home side began pressing for an equalizer but the introduction of substitute Fernando Torres began to cause them problems -- and the Spaniard proved the inspiration for Liverpool's decisive second goal in the 73rd minute when he clipped a cross with the outside of his foot for Gerrard to send a superb diving header past goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Liverpool went close to adding a third late on, with Jaaskelainen saving well from Torres and then Xabi Alonso, before Torres struck a post from Lucas' lay-off.

Manchester United were looking to rebound after their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the previous round and visitors Stoke provided little resistance.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 100th and 101st goals of his United career at Old Trafford.

He provided the opening goal and set up the second for Michael Carrick on the stroke of halftime.

For good measure, he curled in the final United goal in the 89th minute with one of his trademark, unerring free-kicks into the bottom right-hand corner from 20 meters.

Before that Dimitar Berbatov added a third and substitute Danny Welbeck scored his first for the club.

Arsenal's challenged faltered again with a fourth defeat in 13 matches, with Villa moving level with them on 23 points in fifth place in the standings.

Arsenal left back Gael Clichy headed into his own net in the 70th minute to give Villa the lead.

Gabriel Agbonlahor then made a strong run in the 80th minute and fired a right-footed shot past Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

Ashley Young could have given Villa the lead in the first half, but missed a penalty in the 20th.

Elsewhere, Tottenham suffered a first defeat under Harry Redknapp, losing 2-1 at Fulham.

A disastrous goalkeeping error by Heurelho Gomes allowed Simon Davies to score the Fulham opener. Andy Johnson made it 2-0 before substitute Fraizer Campbell gave Spurs late hope.

Sunderland came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Blackburn, West Ham were held goalless at home by Portsmouth and Titus Bramble scored a late equalizer against his old club as Wigan drew 2-2 at Newcastle.