Rivals falter to leave United sitting pretty

LONDON - A good week for Manchester United got even better Wednesday as none of their rivals for the title won.

Arsenal drew 0-0 with Manchester City, Chelsea were beaten 1-0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Tottenham Hotspur went down 2-1 at Everton to leave United, who beat Stoke City 2-1 Tuesday, two points clear of City at the top of the table, having played two games fewer.

Arsenal, who have played one more than United, are a point further back. It was a hugely frustrating night for them, as they dominated City but couldn’t find the breakthrough.

Both Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas hit the post, and Joe Hart made excellent saves from Jack Wilshere and Van Persie, but gradually Arsenal ran out of ideas against a resolute but unadventurous City.

Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna were both sent off in the final minute after a largely inconsequential clash.

Chelsea’s awful run of form continued at Wolves, who had been bottom as Stephen Hunt’s fifth-minute corner flew in off the shins of Jose Bosingwa to cost them a 1-0 defeat.

That was enough to lift Wolves out of the relegation zone and leave Chelsea nine points adrift of United, having won just once in their last nine games.

Had Tottenham won at Everton, Chelsea would have been four points away even from Champions League qualification.

As it was, though, they went down 2-1. A low drive from Louis Saha gave Everton a third-minute lead, and Rafael van der Vaart headed an equalizer eight minutes later, before Seamus Coleman tapped in the winner 15 minutes from time after Heurelho Gomes had saved from Saha.

The pressure on Roy Hodgson grew further as Liverpool’s dismal away form continued with a 3-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

Martin Olsson got in behind Glenn Johnson to fire Blackburn into a 32nd-minute lead, and Benjani Mwaruwari hammered a second from Morten Gamst Pedersen’s pass six minutes later.

The Zimbabwean forward added his second and Blackburn’s third after fine work from David Hoilett. Steve Gerrard pulled one back but then missed a penalty.

Leon Best had never scored for Newcastle United before Wednesday, and it was, supposedly, his signing that persuaded owner Mike Ashley that former manager Chris Hughton was not judge of a player. Given a rare chance, though, he struck a hat-trick - his first goals for the club - as Newcastle thrashed West Ham United 5-0.

Kevin Nolan and Peter Lovenkrands got the other goal as West Ham fell back to the bottom of the table.

Aston Villa are in the relegation zone after they went down 1-0 to Sunderland, having had Emile Heskey sent off for pushing Jordan Henderson in the face.

Phil Bardsley smashed in the only goal from 25 yards - his first strike for the club - with 10 minutes remaining.

Wigan Athletic make up the bottom three but will draw some consolation from a battling 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers, Ronnie Stam cancelling out Rodrigo Moreno’s opener.