Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0 on Sunday to close to within four points of leaders Manchester United, dpa reported.
United still have a game in hand, but after Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Liverpool, who are also four points adrift, their progress to a third successive title looks far less comfortable than it had done.
Michael Essien got the only goal of the game after 16 minutes, his increasing influence after returning from a serious knee injury seemingly key to Chelsea's surge of form under Guus Hiddink.
City remain 10th, six points above the relegation zone.
Chelsea had bossed the early exchanges, and Frank Lampard had a goal ruled out for offside after only two minutes.
Their opener came after 16 minutes, Lampard's quick free-kick finding Essien, who sent a looping right-foot shot past Shay Given.
After scoring against Juventus in the Champions League last week, it was his first Premier League goal of the season.
Nicolas Anelka had a good shout for a penalty turned down after he had tangled with Nedum Onouha, Michael Ballack fired over after a delightful backheel from Didier Drogba and Essien headed just wide after another fine Chelsea move, all before half-time.
Chelsea won the equivalent fixture 6-0 last season, and their victory this time around was only marginally less convincing.
City were poor, Robinho in particular, although Valeri Bojinov did pose a fleeting threat after coming on for the Brazilian for his third substitute appearance after recovering from a serious Achilles tendon injury.
Drogba drew Given into a fine low save, before making way for Florent Malouda, as Chelsea sat on their advantage in the later stages.
Malouda then had a late effort cleared off the line by Richard Dunne, but it remained 1-0.
The only negative for Chelsea was an injury to Deco that forced the Portugal international off just before half-time.
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