LONDON (AFP) Liverpool were left languishing in the Premier League relegation zone after the 18-times champions of England suffered a stunning 2-1 loss at home to newly promoted Blackpool at Anfield on Sunday. Meanwhile champions Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to four points with a 2-0 win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge that cast fresh doubt on their London rivals bid to a mount a title challenge. In the days other match, big spenders Manchester City leapfrogged Manchester United into second place after a 2-1 win at home to Newcastle. But all eyes were on Anfield, where Blackpool won for the first time since 1967 to leave Liverpool with just one win in the league from seven games so far this season. Charlie Adam fired Blackpool into a 29th-minute lead from the penalty spot before Luke Varney scored what proved to be the Tangerines winner on the stroke of half-time. Sotirios Kyrgiakos ran on to head in Liverpool captain Steven Gerrards 53rd-minute free-kick to give the Reds hope. And the Greek defender almost snatched a point for the Merseysiders late on but was denied by a brilliant save from Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks in a match where Liverpool striker Fernando Torres limped off after just 10 minutes with a groin problem. Before kick-off some Liverpool supporters staged the latest protest against feuding American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who many Anfield regulars blame for saddling the club with a debt mountain they believe has restricted their ability to sign top-class players. But manager Roy Hodgson refused to blame off-field distractions for Liverpools poor start, telling Sky Sports: It was a start we could never envisage but weve got to live with it and do something about it. Delighted Blackpool counterpart Ian Holloway added: What pleased me, coming to Anfield, is we managed to keep our game and score two goals. Thats the unexpected bit. Im just proud of the lads. It was like the Alamo in the second half. Weve got lots and lots to learn. We need a little bit of fortune and what a fantastic save from Matthew Gilks at the end. Didier Drogba put Chelsea into a 39th-minute lead in Sundays late game, flicking in Arsenal old boy Ashley Coles cross before Alex made the points safe in the closing minutes with a swerving free-kick. Once more Arsenal were the equal of the title-holders when it came to creating chances but, not for the first time, their finishing let them down in pursuit of a first major trophy since 2005. The game should have been over before it started, said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after a defeat that left the Gunners seven points adrift of Chelsea. We had chance after chance and never put the ball in the back of the net. Drogbas goal was his 13th in 11 starts against Arsenal and the Ivory Coast foward, having helped his side bounce back from last weeks defeat by Manchester City, said: This one is much better because it put us 1-0 up and then we played a bit better. Earlier, Manchester Citys Adam Johnson came off the bench to score the winner in a 2-1 victory over Newcastle as Roberto Mancinis side climbed to second in the table. Johnson had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes before he fired City in front with a quarter of an hour left at Eastlands after Carlos Tevezs early penalty had been cancelled out by Newcastles Jonas Gutierrez. What is pleasing is that the players have shown that there is substance in the result, City assistant manager Brian Kidd told ESPN. Defeat for Newcastle was made worse by the early loss of Hatem Ben Arfa with a suspected broken leg after a crunching challenge by Citys Nigel de Jong.