Manchester United

United put to the sword as Reds run riot
Liverpool FC breathed life into their ailing Premier League campaign with a stunning 4-1 victory at frontrunners Manchester United FC, reducing the gap at the top to four points, while Andrei Arshavin scored his first goals for Arsenal FC.

Two penalties
The visitors took longest to settle at Old Trafford but no sooner had they done so than they found themselves trailing when Cristiano Ronaldo (23) scored from the spot after Pepe Reina fouled Ji-Sung Park. United's lead lasted barely two minutes, however, as Fernando Torres seized on a mistake from Nemanja Vidić to race clear and finish, and just before the break Steven Gerrard converted a penalty to put Liverpool ahead.

Late goals
Sir Alex Ferguson's men were then rocked when Vidić was dismissed for bringing down Gerrard in the 76th minute and, faced with finishing the match a man down, United's afternoon rapidly deteriorated when Fábio Aurélio curled the ensuing free-kick past Edwin van der Sar. Substitute Andrea Dossena lifted a clearance from Reina over the Dutchman in added time to condem United to their heaviest home league defeat since a 4-1 loss to Queen's Park Rangers FC on 1 January 1992.

Arshavin joy
Later in the day, Arshavin scored the first two goals as Arsenal defeated Blackburn Rovers FC 4-0 at home to climb up to fourth ahead of Aston Villa FC, who play Tottenham Hotspur FC tomorrow. Sixth-placed Everton FC maintained their push for a place in the top four by beating Stoke City FC 3-1. At the other end, strugglers Portsmouth FC were denied victory at second-bottom Middlesbrough FC when Marlon King (90) levelled to salvage a 1-1 draw, while two other relegation-threatened teams, Hull City AFC and Newcastle United FC, drew 1-1. Elsewhere, visitors Fulham FC consolidated their place in mid-table with a 3-1 defeat of Bolton Wanderers FC, while Charles N'Zogbia (45) scored the winner as Wigan Athletic FC triumphed 2-1 at Sunderland AFC.