Manchester United regained the top spot in the Premiership table on Friday despite a late goal from Duncan Ferguson giving Alex Ferguson’s men a scare before they ran out 3-2 winners against Everton at Old Trafford.
Ferguson’s diving header in the 90th minute was followed by another dangerous-looking effort moments later. However, United — who had been dominant throughout — held on for the deserved win.
United now sit top of the Premiership table on 43 points, with Arsenal second on 42 after their 3-0 stroll over bottom-of-the-table Wolves earlier in the day.
Chelsea, who were in second spot, are now third after their 4-2 humiliation away to Charlton, which leaves them four points adrift of United.
United were without injured skipper Roy Keane and started with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs on the bench with Sunday’s trip to Middlesbrough in mind.
United were in control for most of a match and went ahead through Butt in the ninth minute.
But the Merseysiders were level when Gary Neville put through his own goal four minutes later.
After a foul by Butt on Gary Naysmith, Thomas Gravesen’s freekick from the right somehow found the foot of Neville deep in his own box, leaving his American ‘keeper, Tim Howard, clutching at thin air.
However, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side grabbed an all-important lead only a minute before the end of the first half through Brazilian Kleberson.
Kleberson rose to meet a Neville cross and scored with a dipping header from six yards out.
After the interval Everton struggled to get past the United defence, while it looked only a matter of time before United pulled further ahead.
In the 65th minute Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo sent in a cross for David Bellion to meet with a right-foot shot that beat Nigel Martyn in the top corner.
Everton’s late goal came as the United defence failed to deal with a dangerous-looking cross from the left into their area by Kevin Kilbane.
Ferguson, waiting on the edge of the six-yard box, saw it coming and did well to steer his diving header past Howard. — Sapa-AFP