Chelsea’s lead cut to one point after defeat

LONDON, (Reuters) – Chelsea’s lead at the top of the  Premier League was cut to one point yesterday when they lost  2-1 at Everton with Louis Saha continuing his scoring jinx over  them.

Second-placed Manchester United drew 1-1 at Aston Villa  while Arsenal stayed in the hunt after beating Liverpool 1-0.

Saha, who scored against Chelsea in the FA Cup final last  season and in the 3-3 draw against them in December, cancelled  out Florent Malouda’s 17th minute opener for Chelsea with a  header in the 33rd.

He then had a penalty saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech  on the stroke of halftime before scoring the winner after 75  minutes when he chested the ball down, turned and fired home.

That sent Chelsea to their first defeat in 11 matches and  gave Everton manager David Moyes his first victory over the  London side on the night he celebrated his 300th Premier League  game.

Chelsea remain top with 58 points, but are just one point  ahead of Manchester United, who drew at Villa despite playing  for more than an hour with 10 men after Nani was sent off for a  ragged two-footed challenge on Stilian Petrov.

Nani will now be suspended from the League Cup final against  Villa at Wembley Stadium on Feb. 28.

Arsenal ended a run of four league and cup matches without a  win beating Liverpool 1-0 at the Emirates where Abou Diaby  headed the only goal 18 minutes from time.

They are third on 52 points and Liverpool are fourth on 44.