Manchester United maintained their seven point lead at the top of the Premier League after beating rivals Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford, before Manchester City won at Arsenal for the first time since 1975.
United dominate the first half and it was no surprise when Robin van Persie but the leaders ahead, turning in Patrice Evra’s pinpoint cross after 19 minutes. RVP has now scored in eight of his last nine Premier League matches.
Van Persie then played provider for United’s second, as his free kick was met by Evra, whose header then deflected in off Nemanja Vidić.
Down 2-0 Brendan Rodgers brought on new signing Daniel Sturridge anfd suddenly Liverpool looked a completely different side. Sturridge pulled one back when De Gea spilled a Gerrard shot, and probably should have equalized late on, but blasted his shot over the bar.
With United’s win, the pressure was on City to win at Arsenal, a task that became much easier when Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny was sent off for hauling down Edin Džeko in the penalty area after nine minutes.
Dzeko missed the resulting penalty, but it was only a matter of time before they broke through and James Milner put them one up, latching on to Carlos Tévez’s probing pass and powering in. Džeko’s atonement was complete when he followed up Tévez’s parried shot.