Manchester United stretched ahead of the chasing pack after picking up three points while their closest rivals dropped down the league table.

United gave relegation battlers Everton a first half roasting to come out 2-0 winners at Old Trafford.

Henning Berg's first League goal for United - the first time Everton goalkeeper Thomas Myhre has been beaten in 284 minutes of football - put the champions 1-0 up. A delightful 25-yard chip from in-form Andy Cole, his 13th strike in 12 games, secured the points.

Everton's depleted side, with eight first teamers missing, only managed to keep the score down with a combination of good fortune, last-ditch defending and some sloppy finishing.

Two goals each for Mark Draper and Stan Collymore secured the points for Aston Villa against Tottenham Hotspur in the day's highest scoring Premiership match.

Draper's first came with a header from six yards from a Savo Milosovic cross. Spurs equalised after the break when the ball bounced off Ian Calderwood and past Villa keeper Mark Bosnich.

Collymore celebrates his first with Ian Taylor

But when Draper scored his second, pouncing as Spurs goalkeeper fumbled a weak cross, Tottenham collapsed.

Collymore, who was arrested on an assault charge on Christmas Eve, grabbed his first from close range on 83 minutes and, in the dying seconds he beat Walker again, this time with a blistering free kick.

Nearest challengers Blackburn Rovers were held to a 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

Blackburn's debut goalkeeper Alan Fettis had a mixed game, but managed to keep a clean sheet.

The Northern Ireland international was named in the starting line up as a late replacement for the injured Tim Flowers just before kick-off and was put under intense pressure to keep Rovers in the game.

Liverpool scored a 3-1 home win over Leeds to leapfrog over their rivals into fourth place behind United, Blackburn and Chelsea.

Teenage striker Michael Owen scored his 10th goal of the seaon just 50 seconds after half-time and Robbie Fowler then grabbed two goals in the 79th and 83rd minutes.

Alf-Inge Haaland scored Leeds' consolation with a powerful header.

Newcastle manager Kenny Daglish dropped Faustino Asprilla and John Barnes for his team's trip to Derby but the move backfired as the Magpies went down 1-0.

Italian star Stefanio Erano scored with a penalty after just four minutes following Des Hamilton's clumsy challenger on striker Dean Sturridge.

Newcastle's captain and England international, David Batty was sent off for a second bookable offence in the second half.

In the Nationwide First Division the top two clubs, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest, both won.
 

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