United go top as Liverpool lose at Sunderland

Manchester United took advantage of Chelsea’s loss at Aston Villa with a 2-1 win over Bolton that took them back to the top of the Premier League.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team took an early lead at Old Trafford when Micheal Owen’s header went in off Zat Knight before Antonio Valencia scored his first goal for United to put them 2-0 up.

Matt Taylor pulled a goal back for Bolton in the second-half with a header from Kevin Davies’ cross. United looked nervy as Gary Megson’s men pressed for an equaliser however they held on to secure three points.

Meanwhile, Liverpool lost more ground on their title rivals as they slumped to their fourth loss of the season at Sunderland.

Darren Bent scored the only goal of the game in controversial fashion with a shot that deflected into the net off a beach ball. Liverpool’s players protested but the goal was given.

Rafael Benitez and Steve Bruce had to be separated on the touchline as the tension threatened to boil over in the second-half, however Sunderland held on through seven minutes of added time to win and land another significant blow on Liverpool’s title hopes.

Tottenham remain in third in the Premier League after beating Portsmouth 2-1 on Harry Redknapp’s return to Fratton Park.

Ledley King put Spurs in front and Jermain Defoe scored against his former club to make it 2-0 at half-time. Former Spurs midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng pulled a goal back for Paul Hart’s team but they couldn’t find an equaliser with Defoe sent off for stamping on Aaron Mokoena and Micheal Brown shown a red-card in the final minute for a trip on Aaron Lennon.

Arsenal recorded a routine 3-1 victory over Birmingham at the Emirates stadium. Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby put Arsene Wenger’s side into a 2-0 lead before Lee Bowyer pulled a goal back for Birmingham.

Andrey Arshavin rounded off the win though with a late goal in the second-half.

Everton had to come from behind to draw 1-1 with Wolves at Goodison Park. Kevin Doyle put the visitors ahead after latching onto Wayne Hennessy’s long goal-kick. However, they couldn’t hold on for the win with Russian Diniyar Bilyaletdinov equalising in added time before Stefan Maierhofer was sent-off for Wolves.

West Ham’s struggles continued as they lost at Stoke. James Beattie opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Julian Faubert brought down Matthew Etherington. Matthew Upson equalised for the Hammers but Beattie scored the winner with his second of the game and sent Stoke up to ninth in the Premier League.