Fernando Torres made it four goals in as many days as Chelsea registered a first Premier League win under Rafael Benítez against Martin O'Neill's sorry Sunderland.
Arsenal earned a much needed win to inflict a third successive defeat upon West Brom, Norwich fought off a Swansea resurgence with an excellent 4-2 win at the Liberty Stadium and Southampton made it three wins from five against Reading.
Elsewhere, Darren Bent got off his backside for his first appearance since 30 October as Aston Villa drew 0-0 with Stoke while QPR remain winless after Wigan denied Djibril Cissé's would-be winner.