United step up Chelsea chase

Manchester United FC closed to within two points of Premier League leaders Chelsea FC with a hard-earned victory at Hull City AFC while Arsenal FC also won to increase the pressure at the top, Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fàbregas proving the crucial figures.

Fàbregas in form
With Chelsea held at Birmingham City FC yesterday, Arsenal and United had the chance to cut the gap on the leaders and the former took full advantage in the early game, the introduction of Fàbregas inspiring a comfortable 3-0 win against fourth-placed Aston Villa FC. With a hamstring injury restricting their captain to a place on the bench the Gunners struggled to fashion chances until Fàbregas came on in the 57th minute, breaking the deadlock with a fine free-kick eight minutes later. The Spanish international rounded off a swift counterattack to seal the points nine minutes from time, although he limped off shortly afterwards, with Abou Diaby crowning a fine win with a third goal a minute into stoppage time.

Mixed afternoon
United also initially struggled at Hull before Rooney put them in front from Darren Fletcher's cross in added time at the end of the first period. The forward's misplaced pass then led to Rafael fouling Jozy Altidore to concede the penalty from which Craig Fagan levelled a minute before the hour, although Rooney redeemed himself in the 73rd minute, Andy Dawson inadvertently turning his cross into his own net to restore United's advantage. Rooney also set up Dimitar Berbatov's clinching third goal with eight minutes remaining to take United on to 40 points, two behind Chelsea and the same margin ahead of Arsenal having played a game more than the north London club.

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On-form Fulham floor United

Manchester United FC's Premier League title prospects took a potentially significant blow with a 3-0 defeat at UEFA Europa League contenders Fulham FC, on a day when Aston Villa FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC strengthened their top-four claims.

On-form Zamora
Victory for United would have allowed Sir Alex Ferguson's team to draw level with leaders Chelsea FC, who travel across London to face West Ham United FC on Sunday, for the second time this week. The Blues, however, can now establish a six-point lead following United's second loss in three league games, the hosts forging ahead through Danny Murphy's curling shot (22). Bobby Zamora's fifth goal in four matches doubled the advantage a minute into the second period, with Damien Duff (75) rounding off the scoring with a left-footed volley.

Two-goal Crouch
That allowed Villa, in third, to narrow the gap on United to two points. John Carew's header (61) earned the Midlands club a home victory against Stoke City FC, while Tottenham, in fourth, won 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers FC thanks to a double from Peter Crouch. Arsenal FC, who drop to fifth as a result, will return to third if they overcome Hull City AFC in the late fixture.

Landmark goal
Elsewhere, sixth-placed Manchester City FC twice surrendered a lead against mid-table Sunderland AFC before finally emerging 4-3 winners, Roque Santa Cruz starting and finishing the scoring for Mark Hughes's side. Liverpool FC, meanwhile, lost 2-0 at bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth FC, who are now within two points of safety. Javier Mascherano (45) was sent off for the visitors at Fratton Park, 12 minutes after Nadir Belhadj opened the scoring with the 500th goal in the Premier League this term. Liverpool's Merseyside neighbours Everton host in-form Birmingham City FC on Sunday, while Burnley FC go to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.

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United win to move level with Chelsea

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his 900th league match in charge of Manchester United FC with a 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers FC as his side moved level with Chelsea FC at the top of the Premier League.

Rooney strike
United's unbeaten home record was ended on Saturday by Aston Villa FC, but there was little danger of them dropping further points against Wolves once Wayne Rooney had broken the deadlock from the penalty spot on 30 minutes with his 12th league goal of the season. Nemanja Vidić (43) and Antonio Valencia (66) added further goals to leave United second on goal difference alone behind Chelsea, who host bottom side Portsmouth FC on Wednesday.

Villa third
Villa climbed to third after goals in each half from Emile Heskey and James Milner earned the points in a 2-0 win at Sunderland AFC, who had Lorik Cana sent off. Birmingham City FC are up to sixth after winning their fifth Premier League match in succession, 2-1 at home to Blackburn Rovers FC. Alex McLeish's side are now unbeaten in eight Premier League games. In the evening's other match Bolton Wanderers FC beat second-bottom West Ham United FC 3-1 to climb out of the bottom three at Wolves's expense. On Wednesday Liverpool FC, now eighth, host Wigan Athletic FC, Arsenal FC are at Burnley FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC host Manchester City FC.

Rangers rise
Elsewhere in Europe on Tuesday, Kenny Miller scored twice and DaMarcus Beasley once as Rangers FC won 3-0 at Dundee United FC to move a point clear of Celtic FC at the top of the Scottish Premier League. In France's Ligue 1 AJ Auxerre, in fifth, stay a point ahead of sixth placed Valenciennes FC after the pair drew 0-0.

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Cast your vote for Play of the Day

Two goalkeepers – albeit for vastly different reasons – and two exquisite free-kicks are among the UEFA Champions League Matchday 6 moments on offer in Play of the Day, presented by UniCredit. To cast your vote for the chance to win tickets to the UEFA Champions League final and other prizes, click here. Simply watch our clips of the best action from Matchday 6, choose the Vote and Win option and select your favourite play. Voting for Matchday 6 closes at 12.00CET on 11 January.

The six selections for Matchday 6 are:

Alberto Gilardino (Liverpool FC v ACF Fiorentina)
Gilardino buries substitute Juan Vargas's low, added-time cross past Diego Cavalieri to win the game and send Fiorentina into the last 16 as group winners.

Sinan Bolat (R. Standard de Liège v AZ Alkmaar)
The first goal a keeper had scored in open play in the UEFA Champions League took Standard into the UEFA Europa League at AZ's expense, Boilat brilliantly heading past his AZ counterpart Sergio Romero from Benjamin Nicaise's free-kick deep in added time for a 1-1 draw.

Lionel Messi (FC Dynamo Kyiv v FC Barcelona)
With the score tied late in the game, Messi delivered the knockout blow with a whipped free-kick that cannoned in off the bar.

Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille v Real Madrid CF)
Mandanda made a number of fine saves during the match but none were better than his stop to deny Marcelo as the visitors began building second-half pressure, the French international diverting the ball over as the full-back blasted goalwards from the left.

Milan Gajić (FC Zürich v AC Milan)
Zürich took a 29th-minute lead with a moment of great skill from Gajić, whose free-kick bent around Milan's wall and in off the left-hand post, giving Dida no chance.

Michael Owen (VfL Wolfsburg v Manchester United FC)
The United striker rolls back the years and caps a lightning counter-attack with a cool chip over Diego Benaglio to complete his hat-trick in fine style.

To watch all six and cast your vote, click here.

What was the best piece of skill you saw on Matchday 6? Have your say below.

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