Premier League action - in pictures

The dividing lines are drawn in the north-east where Chris Hughton's Newcastle are hosting Steve Bruce's Sunderland Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Images Newcastle's Kevin Nolan scrambles in the opening the goal of the game in the 26th minute, flicking the ball over his shoulder and beyond the advancing Simon Mignolet Photograph: Graham Stuart/AFP/Getty Images Eight minutes later, he slots home a second. Then deep into first-half injury time, Shola Ameobi bags a third from the penalty spot after Jonas Gutiérrez is fouled Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Images Former Newcastle defender Titus Bramble is dismissed in the second half for recklessly bringing Andy Carroll down on the edge of the box Photograph: Graham Stuart/AFP/Getty Images Against 10 men, Newcastle are able to wrap up a comprehensive victory. Further goals from Ameobi and Nolan put them 5-0 up before Darren Bent grabs a late consolation for Sunderland Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images Hughton looks delighted. His side are now up to seventh in the table - that should dampen speculation that he's about to depart the club Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images In the Midlands, two other neighbouring clubs at odds today as Aston Villa host Birmingham City. Villa's French manager Gérard Houllier looks concerned before kick-off as he chases only his second league win since taking charge of the club Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Emile Heskey gets the better of Roger Johnson as Villa search for a breakthrough Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Nigel Reo-Coker cops some flak from his opponents, especially from Barry Ferguson Photograph: Chris Brunskill/Getty Images Aston Villa's Ashley Young collides with Birmingham City's Liam Ridgewell. The match ends goalless, leaving these sides in 12th and 13th place respectively Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Roy Hodgson's Liverpool travelled to Bolton Wanderers knowing that a point will lift them out of the relegation zone Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA His team adopt a novel approach to defending a set-piece - and it proves effective as they stifle their opponents in the first half Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images At the other end, Fernando Torres struggles to guide the ball beyond Zat Knight Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images Joe Cole is forced off in the 61st minute, replaced by David Ngog Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA With four minutes remaining, Liverpool's Maxi Rodríguez toe-pokes the ball beyond Bolton's goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Torres must get the lion's share of the credit for a wonderful back-heel which created the opening Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA 1-0 it ends, and that's enough to give Liverpool their first away league win since April Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images