Man Utd maintain six-point lead; top four all win (Roundup)

By Ben James Jan 13, 2007, 23:46 GMT

Leaders Manchester United and champions Chelsea both cruised to home victories on Saturday to maintain Sir Alex Ferguson\'s side\'s six-point lead at the top of the English Premiership.

London - Leaders Manchester United and champions Chelsea both cruised to home victories on Saturday to maintain Sir Alex Ferguson's side's six-point lead at the top of the English Premiership.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored again as United cruised to a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa while Chelsea bounced back from a recent poor run including three successive draws in the league with a 4-0 drubbing of Wigan at Stamford Bridge.

Park Ji-Sung, Michael Carrick and Ronaldo made it 3-0 by half-time at Old Trafford and though Gabriel Agbonlahor pulled one back for Villa in the second half, United were comfortable winners.

'There are 15 games to go and we are in a very good position,' United manager Ferguson said.

'We played some good football and it was a period we capitalised on - sometimes you don't do that, but we managed to get a three-goal lead by half-time.'

Frank Lampard opened the scoring for Chelsea as they edged ahead of Wigan 1-0 at the break and Arjen Robben, an own goal and Didier Drogba completed the rout in the second half.

The club have been the subject of intense media scrutiny in recent times, with reports suggesting that coach Jose Mourinho could leave the club in the summer after a reported falling-out behind the scenes.

But the players responded well on Saturday, easing to victory to keep their hopes of a third straight title on track.

'It was a very good result for us,' Mouringo said.

'We pushed the defence up, scored a few goals, played with a good spirit and dominated the game. After a run of three league games without a win it is nice to get one.

'It has been a dark period in that we haven't won, but a light one because we haven't lost despite all our problems.'

Liverpool bounced back from two Cup defeats in four days as they won 3-0 at bottom side Watford to cement third place.

Craig Bellamy scored the first and had a hand in the other two goals, both scored by Peter Crouch, as Liverpool remained one point clear of Arsenal, who survived the sending-off of Gilberto Silva to win 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers.

Bellamy side-footed a neat pull-back from Steve Finnan to put Liverpool ahead on 33 minutes.

The Wales striker then had a shot parried by Ben Foster in the Watford goal five minutes later and Crouch headed in the rebound and the tall striker made it 3-0 when he placed Bellamy's cut-back into the corner two minutes after the break.

The result leaves Watford in desperate trouble at the bottom of the table with just 12 points after 21 games, 11 points adrift of safety while the three points lifted Liverpool's spirits after their FA Cup and Carling Cup exits at the hands of Arsenal.

'After the defeats in the cup competitions, I said we needed to show character, and I could see the team were really focused on controlling the game and creating chances,' Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said.

'The strikers did a good job, and the rest of the team did well to support them. It was difficult, because the pitch was not good, and we could not move the ball properly.'

Gilberto was sent off after just 12 minutes at Ewood Park after lashing out at Robbie Savage but Arsenal played superbly to gain three points.

Kolo Toure headed the visitors in front eight minutes before half-time and a brilliant goal from Thierry Henry in the second half sealed the points and kept Arsenal in a Champions League place.

Bolton are fifth after they were held to a goalless draw by Manchester City.

The bottom three remain the same after second-from-bottom Charlton Athletic were beaten 3-1 at home by Middlesbrough, while West Ham United twice let slip the lead as they drew 3-3 with Fulham at Upton Park.

Sheffield United drew 1-1 with Portsmouth in the other match.