Chelsea's team players celebrate after scoring their second goal against Fulham during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London December 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    LONDON, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chelsea scored two late goals to beat city rivals Fulham 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, maintaining their five-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premier League on Monday.

    Zoltan Gera put Fulham ahead after four minutes but a 73rd minute header from Didier Drogba and an own goal from Chris Smalling rendered the League leaders the lucky victory.

    Chelsea top the table with 45 points from 20 matches, with Manchester United second on 40 from 19 and Arsenal third with 38 from 18.

Chelsea's Didier Drogba (L) celebrates after scoring against Fulham during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London December 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Tottenham Hotspur, who beat West Ham United 2-0, are fourth with 37 points from 20 matches.

    In other matches, Birmingham City climbed to seventh with a 1-0win at Stoke City, while Everton beat Burnley 2-0 and Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland drew 2-2 in the other afternoon matches.

    Wolverhampton Wanderers were playing Manchester City at home ina 1945 GMT kickoff.

Chelsea's John Terry (L) challenges Fulham's Bobby Zamora during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London December 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Chelsea held at Birmingham, still lead standings

    LONDON, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- English Premier League leaders Chelsea were held to a goalless draw at Birmingham City.

    Chelsea kept their top position in the 20-team standings with 42 points from 13 wins, three draws and three losses, five points ahead of Manchester United who have a game in hand and will visit Hull City on Sunday. Full story

Chelsea held 1-1 at West Ham

   LONDON, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Frank Lampard fired penalty kick to pull off a 1-1 draw for Chelsea at his former club West Ham on Sunday, keeping four points ahead of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.

West Ham's Guillermo Franco (R) challenges for the ball with Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during their English Premier League soccer match at Upton Park in London December 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

   West Ham went ahead in the final minute of the first half as Ashley Cole brought down Jack Collison to enable Alessandro Diamanti to drive home the penalty. Full story

Lampard penalty gives Chelsea victory

   LONDON, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Frank Lampard scored the decisive goal from penalty to restore Chelsea's three-point lead in the Premier League with a 2-1 home win against bottom club Portsmouth on Wednesday.

Chelsea's John Terry (L) celebrates with team-mate Petr Cech after winning their English Premier League soccer match against Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge in London December 16, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

   Champions Manchester United had pulled level on points on Tuesday after beating a second-string Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 in manager Alex Ferguson's 900th league game in charge. Full story