Lampard leads as Chelsea strike seven

Frank Lampard struck four goals as Chelsea FC produced a stunning 7-1 victory against UEFA Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa FC, but Manchester United FC remain top.

Having put five past Portsmouth FC in midweek, Chelsea scored freely once again. Seventh-placed Villa looked poised to present a stiff challenge once John Carew had cancelled out Lampard's 15th-minute opener, but the England midfielder put the Blues ahead again close to the break with a penalty following a James Collins foul on Yuri Zhirkov.

Florent Malouda swept in a Zhirkov centre just before the hour and Lampard completed his hat-trick five minutes later courtesy of another spot kick, Zhirkov again involved as he was impeded by Richard Dunne. Eight minutes later, Lampard set up Malouda to collect his second. Lampard grabbed his 100th Premier League goal for Chelsea in added time, after substitute Salomon Kalou had made it six.

United are still a point clear after a Jlloyd Samuel own goal, two second-half Dimitar Berbatov strikes and Darron Gibson's late effort secured a 4-0 victory at Bolton Wanderers FC. The other English side in UEFA Champions League action this week, Arsenal FC, are now four points off the top, Birmingham City FC securing a 1-1 draw through Kevin Phillips in added time after Samir Nasri's 81st-minute opener for the Gunners. In fourth, Tottenham Hotspur FC gave themselves a five-point cushion over Manchester City FC, in action on Monday, with a 2-0 home defeat of bottom side Portsmouth FC.

Hull City AFC boosted their survival prospects by downing Fulham FC 2-0 for their first victory under Iain Dowie, and they now lie level on points with fourth-bottom West Ham United FC, whose 1-0 loss at home to Stoke City FC was a sixth successive reverse. Wolverhampton Wanderers FC are five points from danger after holding Everton 0-0. Burnley hope to move level with Hull and West Ham by beating Blackburn Rovers FC on Sunday, when Liverpool FC play Sunderland AFC.