Manchester United took another big step toward a third straight English title after coming from behind to beat Newcastle 2-1 to reclaim a seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Wins for Liverpool and Chelsea 24 hours earlier had encouraged thoughts of the title battle being opened up once more, which were further encouraged by Peter Lovenkrands ninth-minute opener for Newcastle.
But the stumble United’s rivals had hoped for failed to materialize as United hit back through Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.
Elsewhere, Manchester City dented Aston Villa’s hopes of securing Champions League football next season with a 2-0 win at Eastlands while Stoke escaped from the relegation zone by beating Bolton.
Newcastle ended Edwin van der Sar’s record-breaking run without conceding a goal in a league match at 1,311 minutes but the Magpies proved incapable of defending their early lead.
Elano celebrated his return to Manchester City’s starting line-up by netting a first-half penalty as City ended Villa’s run of 10 consecutive away victories in the league with a 2-0 win at Eastlands.
The Brazilian playmaker slotted the spot-kick home after James Milner had tripped Shaun Wright-Phillips and it was Wright-Phillips who sealed City’s win two minutes from time.
The defeat left Villa with just a three-point cushion over Arsenal in the battle for fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying spot.
Stoke’s 2-0 win over Bolton came courtesy of a well-taken early strike by James Beattie and a late effort from Ricardo Fuller.
Tottenham bounced back from Sunday’s penalty shoot-out defeat by Manchester United in the League Cup final with a 4-0 win over Middlesbrough that significantly eases their survival concerns.
Robbie Keane opened the scoring for Spurs and Roman Pavlyuchenko doubled the lead. A brace for Aaron Lennon saw Harry Redknapp’s side home.
West Ham’s push for European soccer next season received another boost with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Wigan.
Blackburn earned a valuable point by holding Everton to a goalless draw while stoppage time winner by substitute Manucho earned Hull a 1-0 win at Fulham.
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