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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was on target again to help the hosts crush bottom club Portsmouth 5-0 and return to the top of the Premier League on Saturday.
The England international pounced just before halftime followed by two own goals and strikes by Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov to take United to 56 points, one ahead of Chelsea who entertain third-placed Arsenal on Sunday.
Earlier, Liverpool overcame the dismissal of Sotiros Kyrgiakos to beat Everton 1-0 in a fierce Merseyside derby at Anfield to move into the top four for the first time since October. Dirk Kuyt headed the winner 10 minutes after halftime.
Tottenham Hotspur slipped to fifth in the table after a goalless draw at home to resilient Aston Villa. Spurs created most of the chances but could not find a way to break down one of their rivals for a Champions League qualification place.
Tottenham have 43 points from 25 games, leaving them a point behind Liverpool and six adrift of Arsenal. Villa stay seventh with 41 points from 24 games but are now level with Manchester City, who suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at Hull City.
OWN GOALS
Portsmouth weathered the inevitable early onslaught from champions United at Old Trafford but came unstuck after 40 minutes when the irrepressible Rooney netted his 21st league goal of the season.
The south-coast side conceded another just before halftime when Anthony Vanden Borre turned a Nani cross between his own posts.
Carrick struck a deflected shot past England goalkeeper David James, Bulgarian Berbatov atoned for a first-half miss with an excellent long-range strike and Marc Wilson helped Patrice Evra's pass into his own net to complete the rout.
"It took us a while to get the first goal but we had a lot of pressure, a lot of possession and we were patient enough," United mananger Alex Ferguson told MUTV.
"I think that's important, especially when teams come and sit there, like they did today. We were fortunate with the second one, but that was important. It opened the game for us and in the second half we had a good peformance."
Big-spending Manchester City slipped up in their pursuit of fourth place when they lost at lowly Hull, leaving them three points behind Liverpool albeit with two games in hand. Visiting manager Roberto Mancini was left rueing his side's failure to match Hull's determination and said they must change their mental approach on the road to secure a top four finish.
"Hull were more aggressive but if you understand why you lost sometimes it's better. We must change our mentality and play away games like we play at home," the Italian told Sky Sports.
Burnley battled to a 2-1 win over West Ham United to take them out of the relegation zone, Stoke City beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0, Bolton Wanderers and Fulham played out a 0-0 draw and struggling Sunderland and Wigan Athletic drew 1-1.
Injured Rovers fan dies in hospital
A Blackburn Rovers fan, who was critically injured during a Premier League match between his club and Stoke City on Saturday, has died in hospital.
Police said the Blackburn Rovers supporter was found unconscious in a stand at Stoke's Britannia Stadium. He was treated at the scene for a head injury and cardiac arrest, then rushed to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.
A spokesman said the 30-year-old man was pronounced dead at 1.55 am local time on Sunday morning, and added that the circumstances leading to his death is under investigation.
The Telegraph quoted club sources as saying that there would be no further comment until the investigations are completed.
