Manchester United took a big step towards their eighth title in 11 seasons when they crushed Charlton Athletic 4-1 on Saturday to move eight points clear of Arsenal at the top of the premier league.

A hat-trick from Ruud van Nistelrooy and one goal by David Beckham took United on to 80 points with one match to play, at Everton next week.

But Arsenal could still overhaul them if they win their three remaining games, starting with a home match against Leeds United on Sunday. They then play Southampton on Wednesday before finishing at relegated Sunderland.

"The players normally do a lap of honour, but that is not important today," Ferguson said in a public address to the crowd after the final league match at Old Trafford.

"What is important is next Sunday at Goodison Park."

Newcastle United ensured they will finish third and take a Champions League qualifying spot after beating Birmingham City 1-0 at St James' Park with a 42nd minute free-kick from Hugo Viana following the dismissal of Birmingham's Matthew Upson.

But the other Champions League qualifying place will not be decided until next week when Chelsea meet Liverpool at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea need a draw but Liverpool must win after both clubs stayed on 64 points after losing on Saturday.

Chelsea went down 1-0 to relegation-threatened West Ham United, who won their third successive match after caretaker-manager Trevor Brooking sent on Paolo Di Canio as a second-half substitute.

ENIGMATIC ITALIAN

The enigmatic Italian, playing for the first time since February, lashed in the only goal of the game to keep their survival hopes alive.

"It wasn't a master stroke, Les Ferdinand was struggling with his injury and it was just one for one," Brooking told BBC Radio 5-Live -- his employers until his short-term appointment in place of ill manager Glenn Roeder a week ago.

West Ham midfielder Steve Lomas added: "Shakespeare couldn't have written that script. Paolo came on, had five touches, gave it away five times then he gets the winner. What can you say?"

West Ham's joy was tempered slightly by Bolton earning a point from a goalless draw at Southampton later on Saturday to stay above them on goal difference.

West Ham, Bolton and Leeds all have 41 points, though Leeds have a game in hand and have a far-superior goal difference to the two below them.

Liverpool looked set to capitalise on Chelsea's loss but an injury-time winner by former Anfield striker Nicolas Anelka, his second of the match, earned Manchester City a shock 2-1 away win.

The Frenchman equalised Milan Baros's 59th-minute opener with a 74th-minute penalty and clinched all three points with an excellent shot at the death.

SUPER SCHEICHEL

Liverpool would have been 2-0 up before Anelka's first goal but for a superb save by 39-year-old goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel to deny El Hadji Diouf described by manager Kevin Keegan as one of the best he has ever seen.

Blackburn Rovers drew 1-1 with relegated West Bromwich Albion to move within two points of sixth-placed Everton, who went down 2-0 at Fulham thanks to first-half own-goals by defender Alan Stubbs and goalkeeper Richard Wright.

While Everton's last match is away at Manchester United, Blackburn should have an easier encounter at Tottenham Hotspur, who were thrashed 5-1 at Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough, who had not scored in their previous four matches, took command after the early sending-off of Spurs defender Chris Perry with three goals in five minutes and then cruised home.