Soccer: United stake title claim by beating Liverpool

LONDON - Manchester United stormed back to the top of English soccer's Premier League on Sunday after Paul Scholes marked his 500th game for the club with the opening goal in a comfortable 2-0 win over Liverpool.

Scholes prodded the ball home six minutes before halftime and England defender Rio Ferdinand added only the fourth goal of his four-year United career in the 66th minute, expertly rifling into the top corner.

Victory put United top on 22 points, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference after the champions beat Portsmouth 2-1 on Saturday. Bolton Wanderers are third on 20 after their dramatic 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers while Arsenal moved up to fourth on 17 with a game in hand after their classy 4-0 away demolition of Reading.

There was a thrilling finale at Blackburn, who lost despite being awarded two penalties in the final minutes. Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen saved both, taken by Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts, while his captain Kevin Nolan was red-carded for dissent.

Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni got a late winner as Middlesbrough beat Newcastle United 1-0, while Tottenham Hotspur edged West Ham United by the same score in a London derby thanks to Egyptian forward Mido. The showcase game was at Old Trafford, where United ran out convincing winners over a Liverpool side who are now 11 points off the pace, their title hopes pretty well in ruins.

Scholes, the ninth player to reach the 500-game mark with United, opened the scoring after being left completely unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

His first effort from Ryan Giggs' cross was parried by Spanish keeper Jose Reina but the 31-year-old midfielder made sure by bundling the ball home.

Ferdinand arrowed in the second in the 66th minute after deftly bringing the ball down with his right foot and firing home with his left after Jamie Carragher's botched clearance.

Though they have another 29 games to play, United's performance had manager Alex Ferguson purring - and declaring there was a growing belief they could wrest the title from Chelsea.

"We started the season with the hope, desire and intention to do well - and so far they've not let us down," Ferguson told Sky Sports News.

"I'm looking at Manchester United to step forward and make sure they have a real go this year."

Arsenal gave Reading a master-class in passing at the Madejski Stadium, taking the lead after 58 seconds when Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas provided the cutback for Thierry Henry to sweep home.

Belarus midfielder Alexandr Hleb to fired the second and then turned provider, unselfishly passing for Dutch forward Robin van Persie to score.

Henry wrapped up the win by converting a 70th minute penalty after Fabregas was tripped by Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann.

- REUTERS