Keane keeps Liverpool top

By Mike Collett

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United celebrated the festive season with victories on Friday while Arsenal, the other member of the 'big four', squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at Aston Villa.

Liverpool beat Bolton Wanderers 3-0 at Anfield with Robbie Keane scoring twice to give the leaders 42 points, one ahead of Chelsea as the Premier League season reached the halfway point.

Manchester United won 1-0 at Stoke City to go third on 35 points, ahead of Villa on goal difference after they equalised in stoppage time in the evening match to hold Arsenal who remained fifth on 32.

Chelsea briefly went top when they beat bottom club West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in an early kickoff with goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

Liverpool ended the day in first place after two goals from Keane and one by Albert Riera sank Bolton.

Carlos Tevez struck in the 83rd minute to give Manchester United victory at Stoke who were reduced to 10 men with 18 minutes to go when Andy Wilkinson was sent off.

Arsenal took a 2-0 lead at Villa Park through Denilson and Abou Diaby before Villa hit back in a thriller with a penalty from Gareth Barry and a late equaliser by Zat Knight.

There was an unusual incident at Manchester City as the home side raced into a 4-0 halftime lead against Hull City before eventually winning 5-1.