Newcastle back on top, United win again

Newcastle United returned to the top of the English premier league on Wednesday with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough at St James's Park.

Arsenal, who led the table for a few hours after a 2-1 comeback win over Chelsea at Highbury, stood three points behind in second place on 36 points, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

Liverpool won 2-1 at Aston Villa, while Leeds United lie fourth, just a point behind, after Robbie Fowler scored a hat-trick to give them a 3-0 win at Bolton Wanderers.

In the most open title race for years, champions Manchester United continued their recent revival with a fourth consecutive win, defeating Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park with late goals from Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Alex Ferguson's side stayed fifth on 33 points, six behind Bobby Robson's league leaders.

"I was delighted with our performance," Robson told Sky Sports. "I think Middlesbrough were on the fringe of it, but were never quite into it.

"We looked a team that was exceptionally confident and playing good football."

Alan Shearer, Gary Speed and Olivier Bernard claimed the goals as Newcastle, who last won the title in 1927, made it five consecutive league wins.

WILTORD WINNER

At Highbury, Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a first-half lead but defender Sol Campbell headed his first goal for Arsenal and Sylvain Wiltord struck the winner through a packed goalmouth.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side have taken six points from their two games since losing at home to Newcastle, was upbeat about his team's title chances.

"Not only did we lose to Newcastle but we knew we had to play Liverpool away and then Chelsea at home in our next two matches," Wenger said.

"We were aware we could have been two matches away from a crisis. But the way the players responded makes me very confident, very optimistic."

Vladimir Smicer bagged Liverpool's winner at Aston Villa after Jari Litmanen had opened the scoring and then missed a penalty.

Loan signing Nicolas Anelka came on a second-half substitute for the Reds, who bounced back from consecutive losses to Chelsea and Arsenal and also have a game in hand on all their title rivals.

England striker Fowler brought his tally to five goals in his last three games for Leeds, a late missed penalty the only blemish on his display.

SOLID LEEDS

"It was a good solid performance, great individual goals in between...a good three points," Leeds manager David O'Leary told Sky.

As for his match-winner, last month's 11 million-pound ($15.67 million) signing from Liverpool, O'Leary said: "I think what we've paid for Robbie Fowler is excellent business for this club."

Manchester United made it four wins on the trot, beating a spirited Everton side with late goals from Giggs and Van Nistelrooy. David Beckham came on as a second-half substitute, his sixth game out of the starting line-up, to provide the cross for the opening goal.

"We had to dig in and show a great team performance rather than a sparkling individual performance," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky.

At the other end of the table, Ipswich Town moved off the bottom, swapping places with Leicester City after beating the Midlanders 2-0 at Portman Road for their second consecutive win.