Manchester United stretched their lead at the top of the English Premier League to six points with a 2-0 Boxing Day win over Everton while their closest rivals, Blackburn and Chelsea, could only draw.

United gave relegation battlers Everton a first-half roasting at Old Trafford.

Everton v Manchester United, BBC Radio Five Live's Ian Brown reports (1'56")

Henning Berg's first League goal for United put the champions 1-0 up. It was the first time Everton goalkeeper Thomas Myhre had been beaten in 284 minutes since taking over from Neville Southall.

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 sloppy finishing.

Chelsea's Roberto Di Matteo (left) challenges Dean Blackwell of Wimbledon

Chelsea were held 1-1 at home by Wimbledon while Blackburn drew 0-0 at Sheffield Wednesday.

At Stamford Bridge, Italian striker, Gianluca Vialli put Chelsea ahead when Tore Andre Flo collected a ball on the left and delivered a low cross for Vialli to score from close range after eight minutes.

Frank Leboeuf of Chelsea (left) battles with Marcus Gayle

But Northern Ireland international Michael Hughes levelled 20 minutes later, pouncing on a weak back pass.

Chelsea v Wimbledon, Steve May reports (1' 12")

Liverpool climbed above Blackburn and Chelsea to fourth with a 3-1 home win over Leeds.

Liverpool manager Roy Evans gives his verdict on his team's performance against Leeds (35")

Teenage striker Michael Owen scored his 10th goal of the season 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 again slipped up, 1-0 at Derby, who are unbeaten in the league at their impressive Pride Park stadium.

Newcastle manager Kenny Daglish dropped Faustino Asprilla and John Barnes and Ian Rush started, but he could not crack the home defence.

Derby's Chris Powell and Paulo Wanchope keep out Newcastle's Steve Watson

Derby dominated but the only goal of the game was a fourth-minute penalty scored by Italian Stefano Eranio after Des Hamilton's felled striker Dean Sturridge.

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

Arsenal revived their fading championship aspirations with a 2-1 win over Leicester City.

Former England captain, David Platt put the Gunners ahead on 35 minutes and Arsenal went 2-0 up in the 56th minute when Leicester captain Steve Walsh lobbed the ball high over his own keeper and into the net.

Leicester pulled a goal back when Neil Lennon seized on a mistake by England goalkeeper, David Seaman.

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur, Simon Brotherton reports (1' 56")

Two goals each for Mark Draper and Stan Collymore secured the points for Aston Villa in a 4-1 win over Tottenham at Villa Park.

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.

But when Draper scored his second, pouncing as Spurs goalkeeper Ian Walker 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 added a second with a rocket free kick in the dying seconds.

West Ham's fine home form continued with a 1-0 victory over struggling Coventry, Paul Kitson on the mark on 17 minutes.

Two of last year's promoted teams, Bolton and Barnsley shared a point in a 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium. Gundi Bergsson's long-range blast cancelled out Georgi Hristov's header for Barnsley.

And Crystal Palace still can't win at home. They suffered more frustration including a penalty miss in the 1-1 draw with Southampton.

Matthew Oakley's spectacular volley gave Southampton the lead but former Saints striker Neil Shipperley equalised for Palace. The Eagles had a chance to snatch home win number one but Itzhak's Zohar's late penalty was saved by Paul Jones.

In Division One, Middlesbrough stay top after a 1-0 win at Huddersfield. Second-placed Nottingham Forest swept aside Swindon 3-0 at the City Ground.
 

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