March 24, 2008	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1429

LONDON, March 23: A rare goal from defender Wes Brown sent Manchester United on their way to a 3-0 home victory over 10-man Liverpool that kept them firmly in charge in the English Premier League on Sunday.

With Chelsea at home to second-placed Arsenal in a later kickoff, United temporarily went six points clear at the top of the table.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani added late goals at Old Trafford as United extended their streak over fierce rivals Liverpool to seven wins in their last eight meetings.

Liverpool played all of the second half with 10 men after midfielder Javier Mascherano, who had been booked early on for a late tackle, was shown another yellow card followed by the red for dissent just before halftime.

Newcastle United, meanwhile, eased their relegation fears with a 2-0 home win over Fulham on Saturday as attention focused on the battle to stay in the Premier League.

Sunderland, Reading and Middlesbrough also claimed important wins but nowhere was there more relief than at a wintry St James’ Park.

Mark Viduka’s early shot and a late Michael Owen header gave Kevin Keegan the winning feeling for the first time since returning as Newcastle manager in January.

Viduka, who has recently returned to the side after niggling injuries, fired past keeper Kasey Keller after six minutes and Owen should have made the points safe before finally ending Fulham’s resistance seven minutes from time.

Newcastle rose to 13th, six points above third from bottom Bolton Wanderers who snapped a run of five consecutive league defeats by drawing 0-0 at home to Manchester City.

Fulham remained four points from safety.

Sunderland, who began the day fourth from bottom, beat Aston Villa 1-0 with an 83rd-minute goal by Michael Chopra to secure their first away win of the season.

Roy Keane’s side moved above Birmingham City, who went down 2-1 at Reading after two headed goals by Andre Bikey.

Bolton have 26 points from 31 games, Fulham have 23 and Derby, who lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough, are almost down on 10 points.

Tuncay Sanli scored the goal that put Boro eight points above the relegation places.

Roque Santa Cruz netted twice for Blackburn Rovers in their 3-1 defeat of Wigan Athletic.

Both sides ended with 10 men after Christopher Samba of Rovers and Wigan’s Wilson Palacios were dismissed.

In the day’s late match, Everton’s hopes of beating Liverpool to the fourth Champions League spot faded with a 1-1 home draw against mid-table West Ham United.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni gave Everton an early lead but West Ham got a deserved equaliser after the break through Dean Ashton and almost won the game when youngster Freddie Sears hit the post.

In Saturday’s early game, Portsmouth’s chances of securing a top-six finish were dented by a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur who grabbed late goals through substitutes Darren Bent and Jamie O’Hara.

There have now been 101 goals scored in all competitions at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane this season.

Results:

Played on Sunday:

Manchester United 3 Liverpool 0

Played on Saturday:

Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 1

Blackburn Rovers 3 Wigan Athletic 1

Bolton Wanderers 0 Manchester City 0

Everton 1 West Ham United 1

Middlesbrough 1 Derby County 0

Newcastle United 2 Fulham 0

Reading 2 Birmingham City 1

Tottenham Hotspur 2 Portsmouth 0

—Reuters