Despite second-placed Chelsea being held to a surprise 2-2 home draw by Reading in one of the early kick-offs, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rested a number of big names against Latics.

One of those was Ronaldo but, after a goalless first half at Old Trafford, the wing wizard entered the fray.

Barely a minute later, a bullet header from Paul Scholes' corner gave United the lead.

And four minutes after that, the Portuguese star was taking a penalty after Ji-Sung Park was clipped by Gary Teale.

It was a poor effort and Chris Kirkland saved, but Ronaldo was on hand to net the rebound.

United went route one for their third, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer marking his first Premiership start for almost two months by flashing home Wayne Rooney's knockdown.

Leighton Baines scored a stoppage-time consolation from the spot after Mikael Silvestre felled David Wright - but United moved four points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Liverpool surrendered third place after missing a glut of chances against Blackburn at Ewood Park.

The home side ran out 1-0 winners thanks to Benni McCarthy's 10th goal of the season, the South African turning in Morten Gamst Pedersen's cross shortly after half-time.

But goalkeeper Brad Friedel was the man of the match against his former club, inflicting the Reds' first defeat in eight Premiership games and boosting his own side's survival hopes.

Bolton took full advantage of the Reds' slip, winning 2-1 against Newcastle.

The Trotters went third - temporarily at least - after coming from behind at the Reebok Stadium.

Kieron Dyer netted for the second straight game to put Newcastle ahead but a Peter Ramage own goal and in-form Nicolas Anelka turned the game.

Manchester City bounced back from home defeats to Tottenham and Bolton with a 1-0 victory at Sheffield United, Stephen Ireland scoring the late winner.

In the final 3pm kick-off, Everton and Middlesbrough played out a dour goalless draw at Goodison Park.

TeamTalk.com

Manchester United beats Reading to pull 6 points ahead of Chelsea

LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his sixth goal in three games as Manchester United beat Reading to move six points clear of Chelsea in the English Premier League.

Ole Gunner Solskjaer also scored Saturday as United won, 3-2, at home. The Red Devils' 17th league victory this season, came one day before manager Alex Ferguson's 65th birthday. Ibrahima Sonko and Leroy Lita scored for Reading.

Chelsea, the two-time defending champions, was held, 2-2, by Fulham in a west London derby Saturday. The Blues have dropped four points in two home games in five days after a 2-2 draw Tuesday with Reading.

Arsenal lost, 1-0, at Sheffield United to drop two places to fifth, 17 points behind Manchester United.

"It's been a very good day for us," Ferguson said. "Some of our football was very good — the play was excellent at times.

"But we had our worst defending of the season. It was a slack goal for us to lose," he said of Reading's 89th-minute goal. "We resorted to playing safe football instead of playing the way we usually play."

At Chelsea, defender Moritz Volz put Fulham up, 1-0, in the 16th minute by scoring the 15,000th Premier League goal since the competition began in 1992.

Defender Liam Rosenior deflected Frank Lampard's shot into Fulham's net in the 35th minute, before Didier Drogba scored his 20th goal of the season in the 62nd minute to put Chelsea up 2-1. But the U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra equalized for Fulham in the 84th.

"The way we are defending, I don't know if we lost four points or won two points — four matches, eight goals conceded," Chelsea manager José Mourinho said. "In normal conditions, it's not a drama: six points for me is nothing. But the reality is we are not living in normal conditions.

"Some of our very important players are not playing. Some of our important players keep performing. But a team is 11 and if you have four or five who are performing, some of the others not, it's a bit difficult."

In Sheffield, Christian Nade broke away from Arsenal defender Kolo Touré to score Sheffield United's winner in the 41st minute.

The home team lost goalkeeper Paddy Kenny with a groin injury midway through the second half, forcing midfielder Phil Jagielka into goal with no replacement on the bench. Jagielka pushed a shot from Robin van Persie over the bar in his only save as Sheffield United rose two places to 15th.

Bolton rose to third place, 14 points behind United, despite falling behind at home after 71 seconds when Matthew Taylor scored for Portsmouth. Bolton hit back with goals by Abdoulaye Faye, Ivan Campo and Nicolas Anelka in a 3-2 victory.

Luis Garcia scored the winner as Liverpool won, 1-0, at Tottenham, its eighth shutout in nine games, to rise to fourth.

Watford's home game against Wigan was abandoned because of a waterlogged field with the score level at 1-1.

International Herald Tribune

Man United`s victory over Aston Villa by 3 goals to 1 keeps them 6 points ahead of Chelsea, who also won yesterday.