Ruud van Nistelrooy extended Manchester United's lead at the top of the premier league today, scoring in a 1-0 win over Aston Villa as Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton.
Van Nistelrooy slotted home his 29th goal of the season to give the champions a deserved win at Old Trafford in their midday kick-off which took their points tally to 57.
Arsenal, who have a game in hand, leapfrogged into second place on 54 points after trouncing Fulham 4-1 at Highbury, helped by two goals from Thierry Henry.
Liverpool slipped to third on 53 points after an equaliser from Nicolas Anelka, his first league goal for the Reds, had cancelled out Tomasz Radzinski's earlier strike for Everton in the Merseyside derby.
Fourth-placed Newcastle United, on 52 points, play their north-east rivals Sunderland on Sunday.