Liverpool moved a step closer towards Champions League qualification on Saturday with a 1-0 win away at Manchester United.
Danny Murphy scored a second-half penalty after Gary Neville fouled Steven Gerrard.
United’s neighbours Manchester City are meanwhile clinging to their Premiership survival after drawing 1-1 at fellow strugglers Leicester, who missed a penalty in the closing minutes.
Back at the top, Aston Villa boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Middlesbrough with 10 men after Nolberto Solano was sent off.
Arsenal will be crowned Premiership champions if they win at London rivals Tottenham on Sunday and Chelsea fail to take three points at Newcastle, whose chances of qualifying for the Champions League were dented by wins for Liverpool and Villa.
On Saturday, Manchester United welcomed back wingers Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, midfielder Roy Keane and defender John O’Shea to the starting line-up for the visit of Liverpool, who recalled Murphy and defender Steve Finnan.
United’s Mikael Silvestre and Ronaldo were booked in a frenetic first half that produced no clear chances for either side.
The game came to life midway through the second half after Neville hauled down Gerrard and Murphy converted from the spot.
United rallied, with Giggs striking the bar and Louis Saha failing to convert a close-range header.
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier hailed the win a ”great performance” but acknowledged the race to fill the fourth Champions League spot would go to the wire.
”To win at Old Trafford you need legs, discipline, energy and teamwork and I thought everybody worked for each other very well. Right until the end of the season there will be twists and turns,” said the Frenchman, who praised the returning Murphy and Finnan.
”I think he [Murphy] had a great game because he hasn’t played for some games … Finnan did a good job as well” after missing the last two months, the Frenchman told Sky Sports.
United manager Alex Ferguson rued his side’s missed chances in the absence of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
”We made five great chances in the match and have not made the ‘keeper work. It wasn’t a great performance,” Ferguson said.
United’s rivals Manchester City were involved in one of the day’s most dramatic encounters.
A deflected Michael Tarnat strike from 35-years blasted City ahead three minutes into first-half stoppage time.
But Leicester drew level on 66 minutes with a James Scowcroft header before ex-City player Paul Dickov saw his penalty saved by England ‘keeper David James late on.
Blackburn meanwhile boosted their chances of survival with a 1-0 win at Everton after Jonathan Stead converted an Andy Cole cross in the 81st minute.
In London, Fulham beat London rivals Charlton 2-0.
A Steed Malbranque penalty in the 18th minute gave Fulham the lead after Irish goalkeeper Dean Kiely brought down Luis Boa Morte.
Second-half substitute Sean Davis made sure of the points in the 64th minute.
At the Riverside, Cameroon striker Joseph-Desire Job fired Middlesbrough into the lead four minutes before the break before Gareth Barry headed Villa level in first-half stoppage time.
Solano was dismissed midway through the second half for two yellow cards but the visitors still managed to win — Peter Crouch slotting home a minute from time.
Villa manager David O’Leary was delighted with his side’s win.
”It was going to be hard when we went down to 10 men … but we are a threat on the break. We never give up,” the Irishman said.
At Saint Mary’s, two headed goals in as many minutes from Bolton’s Kevin Nolan and Kevin Davies cancelled out a first-half strike by Southampton’s Marian Pahars.
On Sunday, relegation-threatened Wolves visit Midlands rivals Birmingham, who are still in the hunt for a Champions League spot, while Portsmouth travel to fellow strugglers Leeds. — Sapa-AFP