Chelsea almost lost an incredible goal-fest of a match, as at one point, they led 3-0 only to be pegged back to 3-3 by rampant Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues raced to a seemingly unbeatable three-goal margin thanks to strikes from an unluckily own goal from Jonny Evans, a header from David Luiz and a stunner of a strike from Juan Mata.
But a combination of bad tackling and lack of confidence saw United draw level through two penalties, converted with aplomb by Wayne Rooney and a near-post header by Javier Hernandez.
Cech denied Rooney at the last knockings while David De Gea showed his worth with two injury time saves of the highest quality.
United remain on Manchester City's coat tails while Chelsea will be looking anxiously over their shoulders at Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal for that converted fourth place spot.
The opening exchanges belied the drama that was to unfold. The first attack on goal came from Wayne Rooney's 25-yard free-kick on two minutes that failed to trouble Petr Cech.
Chelsea then embarked on a period of sustained pressure culminating in a couple of corners, the second of which saw goalkeeper David de Gea flap unconvincingly at a cross, but no real damage done to the United goal.
Danny Welbeck appeared to be fouled by debutant Gary Cahill in the Chelsea penalty area on 11 minutes but referee Howard Webb played on much to the consternation of Sir Alex Ferguson who even entered the side of the pitch to complain.
United should have taken the lead on 28 minutes but for last-gasp tackle by Branislav Ivanovic who denied Danny Welbeck at the far post after excellent set-up play by Rooney.
Chelsea then took the lead in fortunate circumstances on 35 minutes. Sturridge danced around Patrice Evra on the byline and and cut the ball back with his right foot. The ball clipped off De Gea's outstretched leg and onto the hapless Jonny Evans's torso which deflected the ball into the net for an own-goal.
Sturridge let fly win a 20-yard rapper seconds alter which De Gea did well to part away to safety.
Cech was forced into a fine diving save from Ashley Young on 35th minute to preserve the home side's lead.
A snap shot by Welbeck a minute later, again forced Cech into making a save. The Chelsea stopper produced another fine stop, this time a 45th minute free-kick from Rooney.
It took just 26 seconds of the second half for the Blues to double their lead and it was a spectacular one.
Assisted by Fernando Torres's deep right byline cross, Juan Mata met the ball with a technically perfect left-foot volley on the apex of the right six-yard box. The ball sizzled past De Gea who had no chance.
Four minutes later and the 41, 668 crowd were in delirium. Mata sent across a free-kick from the right and David Luiz, unmarked, craned his neck to head the ball goal-bound from eight yards out. The ball hit Rio Ferdinand's shoulder as it sailed into the top right hand corner of the net for Chelsea's third.
United looked dead and buried at this point but got a lifeline six minutes later when they were awarded a penalty as back-tracking Sturridge upended Evra in the box.
Rooney dispatched the spot kick with venomous precision, high and to Cech's right.
A quick counter-attack by Chelsea on 66 minutes almost saw Mata hit his second, but his left-footed drive was expertly gathered by De Gea.
Cech was similarly in action thwarting Rooney two minutes later. United we given their second penalty on 67 minutes when Welbeck fell over an unbalanced Ivanovic - Rooney put the kick in the other side of the net to bring the deficit back to one goal.
Sub Hernandez almost put United level when sloppy passing by the Blues allowed the hit man a run on goal. Thankfully for the home side, his right-footed drive went inches wide of Cech's goal.
Michael Essien produced a trademark blaster on 74 minutes which De Gea did well to keep out as both side's traded attacks.
With seven minutes remaining the comeback was complete. First Cech produced a fine save to deny Rooney, the ball fell to Giggs on the byline and he put in the perfect cross for Hernandez to head home from close range to equalise.
Chelsea retaliated deep into added time when first an acrobatic injury-time save from De Gea denied Mata a goal from a blistering free-kick then an Ivanovic pile-driver forced De Gea into another wonder save
United pressed for a winner of their own but both sides were too punch drunk to get the final goal. Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Essien, Torres, Mata, Malouda, Meireles, Bosingwa, Sturridge, Cahill Subs: Romeu, Lukaku, Ferreira, Turnbull, Hutchinson, Bertrand, Piazon Man Utd: De Gea, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Rooney, Giggs, Carrick, Young, Welbeck, Rafael,Valencia Subs: Berbatov, Jil-Sung, Hernandez, Fabio, Scholes, Amos, Pogba.