Chelsea [ Images ] beat Manchester City [ Images ] 1-0 with a Michael Essien [ Images ] goal to move back up to second place in the Premier League on Sunday.

Chelsea are four points behind leaders Manchester United [ Images ] who were hammered 4-1 at home by Liverpool on Saturday. United, who have played a game fewer than their rivals, have 65 points with Chelsea and Liverpool both on 61.

Essien struck in the first half after being teed up by fellow midfielder Frank Lampard [ Images ] and Chelsea should have run out more comfortable winners against a poor City side who remain on 35 points, just six points above the bottom three.

Chelsea's victory extended new coach Guus Hiddink's [ Images ] unbeaten start since taking over from Luiz Felipe Scolari [ Images ] to seven matches.