United defeat Chelsea to close on top spot

Manchester United moved to within five points of Premier League leaders Liverpool, with two games in hand, after a dominant 3-0 victory over title rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford here Sunday.

Goals from Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, saw reigning English, European and world champions United go third in the table on goal difference from Aston Villa and left them just a point adrift of Chelsea.

The Blues remained second and four points off top spot but having, like Liverpool, now played 21 games.

Vidic scored in first-half stoppage-time when the defender was first to react to Berbatov’s flick-on from Ryan Giggs’s corner.

Rooney then made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute when the England striker sidefooted home from close range after Patrice Evra’s fine cross from the left evaded the Chelsea defence.

Berbatov set the seal on a comprehensive win three minutes from time with a near-post volley from a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick.