Manchester United dented Tottenham's top-four hopes while strengthening their own with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford thanks to three first-h...
Manchester United dented Tottenham's top-four hopes while strengthening their own with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford thanks to three first-half strikes.
United, who had lost to Spurs' north London rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup on Monday night at Old Trafford, were two up within 19 minutes through Maroune Fellaini’s fine finish from 12 yards and Michael Carrick’s precise header.
Rooney added United’s third after a mistake in Spurs’ midfield, and celebrated by punching the air and falling to the ground in response to newspaper reports he had been "knocked out" by Sunderland's Phil Bardsley in a boxing match in his kitchen.
The result leaves Spurs six points off fourth-place United in the Premier League table, and means Louis van Gaal's side are now five points ahead of Liverpool, who travel to Swansea on Monday night.
Everton eased their relegation worries with a first home Premier League win in three months, beating 10-man Newcastle 3-0 at Goodison Park.
James McCarthy gave the Toffees the lead in the 20th minute on Sunday and Romelu Lukaku doubled the advantage with a penalty shortly after half-time.
Newcastle had barely recovered from going 2-0 behind when captain Fabricio Coloccini was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Aaron Lennon.
And Ross Barkley rounded off a fantastic afternoon for Everton when he netted the third deep into injury-time.
The win is a welcome relief for Everton manager Roberto Martinez after a disappointing run of results at home in the league.
Chelsea crept rather than motored away from Manchester City in the title race after drawing 1-1 with Southampton.
Jose Mourinho’s men, who are now six points clear with a game in hand on City, took the lead through Diego Costa on 11 minutes but a Dusan Tadic penalty eight minutes later levelled the game.
Plenty of chances were created and wasted by Chelsea with Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster in splendid form in the second half, repelling a Loic Remy effort away from goal in the dying minutes from which John Terry wasted the rebound.
