Ratings review

Parker: Top-rated

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Chelsea seem determined to make sure the league is sewn up as quickly as possible after dismantling another of their title rivals at the weekend.

The Blues travelled to Arsenal on Sunday knowing three points could stall the Gunners title chances and make the title, effectively, a two-horse race.

Before the game Arsene Wenger declared his side had finally come of age and were ready to compete with the best, but the Frenchman clearly underestimated Chelsea and, in particular, the fact that the sight of Didier Drogba turns his defenders' legs to jelly.

The 31-year-old took Arsenal apart yet again, scoring twice to take his tally against the Gunners to 10 in nine games, while his presence was enough to panic Thomas Vermaelen into putting the ball into his own net as the visitors cruised to a 3-0 win.

Elsewhere, Liverpool got back to winning ways in the league with a backs-to-the-wall 2-0 win over local rivals Everton and Birmingham captured the local bragging rights in the Midlands after a 1-0 victory at Wolves.

Manchester United comfortably overcame Portsmouth 4-1 in Avram Grant's first game in charge as in-form Tottenham were held 1-1 at top-four rivals Aston Villa.

Bolton ended their losing streak by drawing 1-1 at Fulham, while Blackburn were held 0-0 at home to Stoke.

West Ham did their best to throw away a five-goal lead against Burnley with the game ending 5-3 at Upton Park.

Manchester City were held to their seventh successive league draw after Jimmy Bullard smashed home a late penalty before celebrating by replicating manager Phil Brown's infamous half-time team-talk the last time the Tigers travelled to Eastlands.

Perhaps performance of the weekend should go to Wigan, who responded in the best way possible to last week's 9-1 mauling at the hands of Tottenham by beating former boss Steve Bruce's Sunderland 1-0.

Surprisingly, despite his heroics against Arsenal, Drogba just misses out on the top three while Ryan Giggs, Tomasz Kuszczak, Lee Bowyer, Guillermo Franco and Pepe Reina can also count themselves unlucky at missing out this week.

Top three

Niko Kranjcar comes in at number three after an impressive showing for Tottenham against Aston Villa. The midfielder's arrival at White Hart Lane has considerably softened the blow of losing fellow Croatian Luka Modric to a fractured fibula earlier in the season, so much so that his compatriot may have a job on his hands getting back in the team. The former Portsmouth man was unlucky not to find the net himself at Villa Park but still did enough a 9/10 from us and a 8.7 from you.

Wayne Rooney finishes second after bagging a hat-trick against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. The England international always looked menacing and although two of his goals came from the penalty spot he still stuck them away emphatically. The 24-year-old's treble took him towards the top of the goalscoring charts with 10 for the season. Rooney managed a 9/10 from our man at the game and an 8.8 from the readers.

The winner this week is West Ham midfielder Scott Parker. The 29-year-old led by example against Burnley and made sure the Hammers put some points between themselves and the drop zone. The former Charlton and Chelsea man got a 9/10 from us and an impressive 9.4 from you.

On the other hand, it was a week of low scores this week with Manchester City and Hull City providing a highest score of 6.6 from Bullard and Jozy Altidore from their draw at Eastlands.

As you may expect, Burnley came in for some stick having conceded five at the weekend with Brian Jensen coming off worst with a score of 3/10 from our man at Upton Park and a 2.7 from you guys. Stephen Jordan (2.8) and Steven Caldwell (2.8) also deserve a mention for their below par displays.

As usual there were a few differences of opinion with Blackburn's Keith Andrews receiving a solid 7/10 from us but you thought him more deserving of a 4.6.

The same can be said of Arsenal's Armand Traore who, after injuries to Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs, filled in well against Chelsea and came out with a 7/10 from our scribe but a 5.7 from the readers.