Arsenal continued to bang in the goals with a 3-1 home victory over Birmingham City while Tottenham Hotspur survived a 60th-minute red card for Jermain Defoe to secure a 2-1 win at Portsmouth.
Champions United lead the way with 22 points from nine games. Chelsea are second on 21, Spurs have 19 and Arsenal have a game in hand on 18 points.
United needed a last-minute own goal to salvage a 2-2 home draw with Sunderland in their last league game and it was another own goal that put them ahead on Saturday as Zat Knight's attempted clearance flew in after five minutes.
"When Bolton scored it was backs to the wall stuff and there was a bit of panic," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports.
"They are the sort of team who can take points off anyone, they are difficult opponents so we are quite happy to get the result."
Liverpool's hopes of a first title in 20 years already look slim after a fourth defeat in nine league games, though they were furious Sunderland's controversial goal stood.
The key moment came after five minutes when Darren Bent's shot cannoned in off a loose beach ball which had "Liverpool" written on it.
The visitors, without the injured Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, complained but Bent was happy to claim his sixth goal in five games.
DROP BALL
"If that's the case then we've got away with one," Sunderland manager Steve Bruce told the BBC.
Bent said: "The beach ball was sitting there in their six-yard box so if they leave it there they pay the penalty."
Chelsea's win at Villa Park last season was their fi
