Liverpool held by battling Hull at Anfield

(CNN) -- Premier League leaders Liverpool had to fight back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 home draw as newly-promoted Hull City continued their remarkable first season in the top flight.

Hull can count wins at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and nearly added the scalp of Liverpool as Paul McShane put them ahead after 12 minutes with Jamie Carragher scoring a disastrous own goal soon afterwards.

But Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard immediately pulled one back and equalized just after the half hour mark.

The draw leaves Liverpool with 37 points after 17 games, two clear of Chelsea who face West Ham on Sunday.

Manchester United remain third in the table, six points behind Liverpool but with a game in hand, after drawing 0-0 at Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's evening kick-off.

However, the defending champions nearly snatched all three points in the final minute when Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes tipped a curling Ryan Giggs free-kick onto the crossbar.

Hull, who are sixth having been rated one of the favorites to go down at the start of the season, put on another brilliant away performance.

The Tigers took the lead in the 12th minute when McShane leapt above Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena to head Marlon King's cross past Pepe Reina.

Veteran Liverpool defender Carragher scored his second own-goal of the season to extend Hull's advantage, slicing an attempting clearance from Bernard Mendy's cross into his own net.

But Gerrard reacted quickly to score from Dirk Kuyt's cross and the inspirational midfielder, who had leg treatment in the opening minutes after a challenge with Nick Barmby, was on target again in the 32nd.

Kuyt headed on Carragher's cross and Yossi Benayoun volleyed down to Gerrard, who calmly slotted it high into the net. Hull battled bravely after the break and had some good fortune as Sami Hyypia's header hit the foot of the post.

Expensive Liverpool summer signing Robbie Keane watched the game from the sidelines, as manager Rafa Benitez strangely ignored the misfiring Irish striker for a second successive weekend.

Earlier, Arsenal's title challenge faltered again as they were held 1-1 at Middlesbrough, although they did not lose any ground on the leaders.

Emmanuel Adebayor gave the visitors an early lead before Arsenal old boy Jeremy Alladiere equalized in the 29th minute as he scored with a glancing header from Tuncay Sanli's powerful cross.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted that his team were still genuine title contenders. "We believe that champions are people who go on when everybody else stops.

"That's the way we can show it. Nobody believes in us but we can show we still believe and keep going," the Frenchman told Press Association.

Aston Villa leapfrogged Arsenal with a 4-2 home win over Bolton and now lie fourth in the table, seven points behind Liverpool, to become realistic title contenders.

Villa were a goal behind at Villa Park when Johan Elmander scored in the 17th minute. But Martin O'Neill's men equalized eight minutes later when Gabriel Agbonlahor shot home.

Villa went ahead when Kevin Davies put Gareth Barry's cross through his own net five minutes before half-time under pressure from Martin Laursen.

Agbonlahor scored his second and Villa's third before Ashley Young grabbed a fourth. Davies pulled a late goal back for battling Bolton.

Elsewhere, managerless Sunderland moved out of the relegation zone with a 4-0 win over bottom club West Bromwich Albion at the Stadium of Light.

Caretaker manager Ricky Sbragia, who took over when Roy Keane walked out, saw his team go 3-0 up at halftime as Kenwyne Jones scored twice in two minutes before Andy Reid added a third. Djibril Cisse's penalty soon after the break ensured Sunderland ended a three-match losing run.

Blackburn manager Paul Ince's future was placed into fresh doubt as his team crashed 3-0 at Wigan with goals from England international Emile Heskey, Antonio Valencia and Lee Cattermole.

It leaves Blackburn second bottom after a sixth successive league defeat.

Manchester City's recent indifferent form continued as Tim Cahill scored a late winner for Everton, the Australian playing as a makeshift striker because of injuries to their recognized front men.

Fulham continued their move up the table with a goalless draw at Stoke.