Manchester United posted a second straight four-goal Premier League away win with a 4-0 success at West Ham United on Saturday but it was tempered by more injuries that have left the club shorn of almost all their defenders.
United, who won 4-1 at Portsmouth last week, move to 34 points, once again within two of leaders Chelsea who visit Manchester City later on Saturday.
Arsenal moved up to third on 28 with a 2-0 home win over Stoke City while Tottenham Hotspur, who visit Everton on Sunday, and Aston Villa, 3-0 home winners over Hull City, have 26.
Liverpool's poor run continued with a poor goalless draw at Blackburn Rovers while bottom club Portsmouth and lowly Wolverhampton Wanderers both claimed wins -- over Burnley and Bolton Wanderers respectively.
Manchester United, whose defensive injury worries were exacerbated by a pre-match illness ruling out Nemanja Vidic, took a while to establish their dominance over a West Ham side who have given them problems in the past.
However, once Paul Scholes put them ahead at the end of the first half with his first league goal of the season they were in total control.
Darron Gibson, who scored two long-range goals in the midweek League Cup win over Spurs, thumped in another after an hour before two goals in a minute 10 minutes later by Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney completed the victory.
BARE BONES
Manager Alex Ferguson was pleased with the points but could not hide his frustration after seeing Gary Neville and Wes Brown limp off to join his long list of injured defenders, forcing him to finish the game with Ryan Giggs playing in the back four.
"It's a big day for us because we had six defenders missing before the game and, of course, Gary Neville then goes off after 30 minutes and it put us under pressure," Ferguson told Sky Sports.
"Then Wes Brown's had to come off, so we are down to the bare bones I am afraid.
"We finished it well. Once we got that second goal we never stopped, we went to try and kill the game off.
"We've added two goals and 4-0 is a good scoreline away from home, good for goal difference, good for the confidence of the team, so we are very pleased."
Arsenal, whose title hopes suffered a massive setback with last week's home defeat by Chelsea, dug deep against battling Stoke for a much-needed win.
Cesc Fabregas had an early penalty saved by the impressive Thomas Sorensen and a goal-bound effort blocked on the line by team mate Emmanuel Eboue, but made amends by helping to set up Andrei Arshavin for the opening goal after 26 minutes.
Aaron Ramsey got the second in the 79th as Arsene Wenger's team, muscled out of the game by Chelsea last week, stood up well to a very physical Stoke side.
"We had a good first half with good chances and good pace but we couldn't get the second goal and after that we were a bit restricted," Wenger said.
"But we didn't give away any chances and we were well focussed defensively."
