Late goals hurt Aston Villa and Sunderland against the big boys

Revitalised striker Fernando Torres continued his renaissance by scoring seven points in Chelsea's 4-2 win over Aston Villa.

The Spaniard repaid those fantasy football managers that remained faithful to the former Liverpool hitman during his barren run with a goal and two assists.

Daniel Sturridge and Branislav Ivanovic registered five points apiece as Chelsea overcame a late Villa fightback.

There were plenty of fantasy football points up for grabs at the Etihad where two goals in a minute rescued Manchester City from a costly defeat against Sunderland.

Mario Balotelli and Sebastian Larsson both scored two goals and six points, a goal and an assist meant five points for Nicklas Bendtner and Stephane Sessegnon was awarded four points for two assists.

Paraguayan defender Antolin Alcaraz bagged six points as Wigan kept their survival hopes alive by recording a second straight victory.

Stoke were dispatched 2-0 at the DW Stadium and Alcaraz put the Latics ahead in the 54th minute.

Wigan have now gone four games unbeaten and kept their fifth clean sheet of the campaign on Saturday.

Tottenham secured a vital win in the fight for a place in next season's Champions League by beating stylish Swansea 3-1 and Emmanuel Adebayor netted two goals and six points.

Rafael van der Vaart opened the scoring and picked up an assist for five points.

Newcastle poacher Papiss Cisse scored six points for the two goals that beat faltering Liverpool.