LONDON — Captain John Terry headed Chelsea five points clear at the top of the Premier League yesterday when his 76th-minute goal secured a 1-0 home victory over champions Manchester United.

The eagerly-awaited showdown had been meandering towards a disappointing goalless draw until Terry was left unmarked to glance in a Frank Lampard free-kick — with striker Nicolas Anelka claiming he got the final touch.

The victory took Chelsea to 30 points, five clear of Arsenal, who won 4-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and United.

Tottenham Hotspur are fourth on 22 after they beat Sunderland 2-0 on Saturday. Liverpool host Birmingham City tonight.

Earlier yesterday, Hull City beat visitors Stoke City 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal, Everton won 2-1 at West Ham United while Wigan Athletic drew 1-1 at home to Fulham.

However, all eyes were on Stamford Bridge this weekend, even though for the most part the big game failed to deliver.

United were without first-choice centre-halves Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic but stand-ins Wes Brown and Jonny Evans were barely tested in a game high on errors and short on goalmouth action.

Chelsea’s defence was similarly comfortable, despite the willing running of United striker Wayne Rooney, and the first hour passed without either goalkeeper seriously troubled.

Peter Cech stretched to keep out a Rooney curler after 68 minutes as the match eventually began to warm up but it remained a tight affair.

The absence of Ferdinand and Vidic proved key, however, eight minutes later when United’s defence got hopelessly confused defending a straightforward Lampard free-kick from the left.

Terry reached it first but Anelka and his strike partner Didier Drogba were also in the vicinity – unlike any United defenders.

The champions upped the tempo after that but, with Dimitar Berbatov also absent through injury, too much fell on Rooney’s shoulders and the Chelsea defenders were able to crowd him out.

Terry, whose day began with some unwelcome tabloid headlines about his family, was delighted.

“I want it (the goal) because I’ve never scored against Manchester United home or away, but Nicolas was brilliant today so he can have it,” he said.

Arsenal took their goal tally to 36 in 11 league games with captain Cesc Fabregas again magnificent for the Gunners as he scored his ninth goal of the season.

Also on Saturday, Manchester City’s hopes of threatening the top four were hit by a fifth consecutive draw. City drew 3-3 with Burnley after having battled back from a two-goal deficit to lead with three minutes remaining.

Tottenham Hotspur moved back into the top four, above City, with a 2-0 home defeat of Sunderland after two consecutive losses while Aston Villa climbed to fifth with a 5-1 hammering of Bolton Wanderers at Villa Park.

Portsmouth remain bottom of the table after losing 3-1 at fellow strugglers Blackburn Rovers.

Arsenal’s first two goals were scored by Wolves players.

Wolves, who dropped into the bottom three, started well but own goals by Ronald Zubar and Jody Craddock scuppered any hopes of a first win over Arsenal since 1979.

Fabregas finished off a flowing move to make the second half academic and Andrei Arshavin rifled in a shot to make it 4-0 before Craddock scored a late consolation.

Manchester City looked to have sealed the points when goals from Shaun Wright-Phillips, Kolo Toure and Craig Bellamy wiped out Burnley’s 2-0 lead but Kevin McDonald struck late to earn the visitors their first away point this season.

Saturday: Aston Villa 5 Bolton Wanderers 1, Blackburn Rovers 3 Portsmouth 1, Manchester City 3 Burnley 3, Tottenham Hotspur 2 Sunderland 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Arsenal 4

Yesterday: Hull City 2 Stoke City 1, West Ham 1 Everton 2, Wigan Athletic 1 Fulham 1, Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0

Tonight: Liverpool v Birmingham