Manchester United are in pole position to take over as Premier League leaders after claiming a deserved 3-0 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford.Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov did the damage as Luiz Felipe Scolari's side were blown away by a truly magnificent performance from the champions.
Liverpool's 0-0 draw at Stoke on Saturday meant United could take over at the summit with victories in their three games in hand and they came through the first, and toughest, obstacle with the minimum of fuss. Chelsea on the other hand were poor and now look a long shot for the title.
Rio Ferdinand was ruled out after suffering back spasms before the game, while Ryan Giggs was surprisingly preferred to Michael Carrick in midfield. Chelsea, meanwhile started with Didier Drogba ahead of Nicolas Anelka in attack, with John Terry returning in defence.
A scuffed Frank Lampard shot and swerving Ryan Giggs free-kick were the best chances created in an even opening dominated by the two defences, but Berbatov really should have put United ahead on the half-hour mark when he shot weakly at Petr Cech after Rooney released him with a brilliant flick inside the box.
Both sides had penalty appeals waved away by Howard Webb, who earlier courted controversy by not booking Rooney for a clumsy tackle but then showing the yellow to Jose Bosingwa for a retaliatory challenge soon after, but the real drama came right on the interval.
United won a corner and Rooney, perfectly legitimately, rolled it out of the quadrant and then nonchantly walked away. Giggs strolled over to retrieve the ball and then crossed it in for Cristiano Ronaldo to head home, but the linesman ruled the corner had not been taken fairly.
Justice was done, though, as Giggs retook it and saw Vidic head it in at the far post following a flick-on from Berbatov.
Anelka replaced the ineffective Deco at half-time but Chelsea continued to look a shadow of their former selves, with United easily holding off their renewed efforts at the start of the second period.
And on 63 United made it 2-0 when Patrice Evra sent in a superb cross from the left wing that Rooney finished well from close range through the legs of a static Ashley Cole.
Ronaldo had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside and went close to scoring twice more as United threatened to run riot, but he had to be content with an assist as Sir Alex Ferguson's men got the third goal they richly deserved three minutes from time. It was simple too, with Ronaldo swinging a free-kick to the near post and Berbatov nipping in to tap home.
United even went in search of a fourth but they had to make do with a result and performance that will have Liverpool and Rafa Benitez surely running scared. They are now five points behind the Reds with the first of their two games in hand coming on Wednesday night against Wigan at Old Trafford.
Chelsea remain second for the timebeing but they are now four points behind Benitez's side having played the same number of games.
Liverpool's 0-0 draw at Stoke on Saturday meant United could take over at the summit with victories in their three games in hand and they came through the first, and toughest, obstacle with the minimum of fuss. Chelsea on the other hand were poor and now look a long shot for the title.
Rio Ferdinand was ruled out after suffering back spasms before the game, while Ryan Giggs was surprisingly preferred to Michael Carrick in midfield. Chelsea, meanwhile started with Didier Drogba ahead of Nicolas Anelka in attack, with John Terry returning in defence.
A scuffed Frank Lampard shot and swerving Ryan Giggs free-kick were the best chances created in an even opening dominated by the two defences, but Berbatov really should have put United ahead on the half-hour mark when he shot weakly at Petr Cech after Rooney released him with a brilliant flick inside the box.
Both sides had penalty appeals waved away by Howard Webb, who earlier courted controversy by not booking Rooney for a clumsy tackle but then showing the yellow to Jose Bosingwa for a retaliatory challenge soon after, but the real drama came right on the interval.
United won a corner and Rooney, perfectly legitimately, rolled it out of the quadrant and then nonchantly walked away. Giggs strolled over to retrieve the ball and then crossed it in for Cristiano Ronaldo to head home, but the linesman ruled the corner had not been taken fairly.
Justice was done, though, as Giggs retook it and saw Vidic head it in at the far post following a flick-on from Berbatov.
Anelka replaced the ineffective Deco at half-time but Chelsea continued to look a shadow of their former selves, with United easily holding off their renewed efforts at the start of the second period.
And on 63 United made it 2-0 when Patrice Evra sent in a superb cross from the left wing that Rooney finished well from close range through the legs of a static Ashley Cole.
Ronaldo had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside and went close to scoring twice more as United threatened to run riot, but he had to be content with an assist as Sir Alex Ferguson's men got the third goal they richly deserved three minutes from time. It was simple too, with Ronaldo swinging a free-kick to the near post and Berbatov nipping in to tap home.
United even went in search of a fourth but they had to make do with a result and performance that will have Liverpool and Rafa Benitez surely running scared. They are now five points behind the Reds with the first of their two games in hand coming on Wednesday night against Wigan at Old Trafford.
Chelsea remain second for the timebeing but they are now four points behind Benitez's side having played the same number of games.
Resource: TEAMtalk.com
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