LONDON, April 23: Chelsea moved to the brink of their first league title for 50 years with a workmanlike 3-1 victory over Fulham in the west London derby on Saturday.

The Premier League trophy will belong to Chelsea on Monday if champions Arsenal fail to win their north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, or next Saturday if Chelsea beat Bolton Wanderers.

Chelsea are top of the table on 85 points with four games left, followed by Arsenal on 71 and Manchester United, who host Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Sunday, on 67.

In Saturday’s other action, Everton stayed on course for a fourth-place finish, worth a Champions League qualifying place, despite only scraping a late 1-1 draw with Birmingham City.

Crystal Palace moved out of the relegation zone on goal difference with a 1-0 upset win over Liverpool — leaving behind Norwich City, who beat Charlton Athletic 1-0, West Bromwich Albion, who were trounced 4-0 at Middlesbrough, and Southampton.

The day’s main focus, however, was at Stamford Bridge, where Jose Mourinho’s debut season in English football continued to go from strength to strength for the League Cup winners.

Joe Cole put Chelsea ahead on 17 minutes, Collins John levelled for Fulham before halftime and Frank Lampard restored the lead on 64 minutes with their 100th goal of the season.

Striker Eidur Gudjohnsen sprinted away on the break in the 87th minute to put the result beyond doubt.

Chelsea’s victory, which followed a gruelling 0-0 draw with Arsenal in midweek, was an ideal boost for Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg at home to Liverpool.

Further down the table, Everton’s disappointment at drawing with Birmingham after their midweek win over Manchester United was eased by both their nearest rivals slipping up.

An 86th minute equaliser from Scottish striker Duncan Ferguson moved Everton on to 58 points, a four-point lead over Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers, who drew 1-1 at Aston Villa.

Saturday’s results:

Aston Villa 1 Bolton Wanderers 1

Blackburn Rovers 0 Manchester City 0

Chelsea 3 Fulham 1

Crystal Palace 1 Liverpool 0

Everton 1 Birmingham City 1

Middlesbrough 4 West Bromwich 0

Norwich City 1 Charlton Athletic 0

—Reuters