Premiership round-up
Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the English premier league today as the champions crushed Sunderland 4-1 and Arsenal were held 1-1 at home to Southampton.
Two goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy and strikes from Phil Neville and David Beckham at Old Trafford -- all before halftime -- gave United their 10th league win in 11 matches.
Arsenal set a new premier league record of scoring in 26 consecutive games when Sylvain Wiltord pounced five minutes before the break at Highbury, but Southampton defender Jo Tessem headed home an equaliser for the visitors 12 minutes from time.
United, who led the table by one point at the start of the day, have 51 points with Arsenal, who have a game in hand, on 48.
Newcastle United leapfrogged Arsenal and moved into second place, two points behind United, as they twice came from behind to beat struggling Bolton Wanderers 3-2 at St James' Park.
Liverpool, in fourth place, and sixth-placed Leeds United meet at Elland Road tomorrow.
Bottom club Leicester City endured another miserable day as striker Jamie Scowcroft's double was cancelled out by Chelsea's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Gianfranco Zola before Hasselbaink claimed a last-minute winner for a 3-2 victory.
Managerless Aston Villa drew 0-0 with Fulham, while Ipswich Town recorded their seventh win in eight league games by beating Everton 2-1.
West Ham United beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Upton Park, with a goal in each half from Trevor Sinclair and Frederic Kanoute.
In a lunchtime kick off, John Gregory enjoyed a dream start to his managerial career at Derby County, as the relegation-threatened club scraped a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Pride Park.
Lee Morris scored the winner two minutes before halftime but they remain second from bottom.-Reuters