Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Manchester United

Manchester United rode their luck before keeping the pressure on league leaders Manchester City with a 3-1 win at third-placed Spurs. But Tottenham, after being crushed 5-2 in last weekend's north London derby, must now be looking over their shoulders at the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Liverpool, as the race for a top-four place intensifies. It is definitely now a two-horse race for the title though as United are just two points behind Roberto Mancini's side again, but 11 clear of Spurs. However, the final scoreline did not tell the full story as Harry Redknapp's team dominated the first half and had a goal disallowed by referee Martin Atkinson for handball by Emmanuel Adebayor. The official ruled that the Togo international had used his arm to control the ball before flicking it into the net. It seemed harsh on Spurs but worse was to come as Wayne Rooney headed United ahead against the run of play on the stroke of half time from Ashley Young's corner. Redknapp's men seemed unperturbed by their misfortune as they continued to dominate the early stages of the second period but two goals by former Watford and Aston Villa star Young finally doused their enthusiasm. He doubled United's lead with a sweet volley from a tight angle on the hour mark before curling home a third goal past Brad Friedel nine minutes later. The result was never in doubt from that moment on, although substitute Jermain Defoe did grab a late consolation goal with a 20-yard effort after a rare Ryan Giggs error.

Match Report: Manchester United 8 Arsenal 2

Manchester United inflicted total humiliation on Arsenal and their embattled manager Arsene Wenger with a brutal victory at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson's Premier League champions responded in spectacular fashion to Manchester City's outstanding 5-1 win at Spurs by returning to the top of the table with a result that represented Arsenal's worst defeat since 1896. Wenger sent out a makeshift side depleted by injuries and suspensions - but even this cannot excuse the manner in which they were outclassed in all parts of the pitch and swept aside with such ease by United. Wayne Rooney was United's inspiration with the sixth hat-trick of his Old Trafford career, but Ashley Young also made his mark with two stunning goals. Danny Welbeck, Nani and Park Ji-sung were the other scorers. Theo Walcott reduced United's three-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time but Robin van Persie's strike late in the second half-represented no measure of consolation for a dispirited, broken Arsenal. United keeper David de Gea distinguished himself with a fine penalty save from Van Persie moments after Welbeck had opened the scoring - and in a game of almost unrelenting misery for Arsenal, teenager Carl Jenkinson ensured they have failed to end a game with 11 players in any of their league games this season when he was sent off. Old Trafford was understandably exultant at the conclusion of such a carnival performance but Wenger now faces defining days of his Arsenal reign before the transfer window closes on Wednesday. For Wenger it was a performance, or lack of one, that proved the folly of his summer of transfer inaction Read more of the blog This result underscores the gulf that has opened up between United and Arsenal and Wenger will now seek to address the weaknesses in his squad and replace the departed Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. Ferguson's faith in the team that won so convincingly against Tottenham was rewarded with another thrilling attack-minded performance. Arsenal's uncertainty was partly explained by the unfamiliar make-up of their team, but the flaws were swiftly exposed by the manner in which United took the lead. Anderson's lofted pass was inventive but Arsenal's failure to react was ominous for what lay ahead, allowing Welbeck to head past Wojciech Szczesny. Van Persie then squandered an instant opportunity to equalise after referee Howard Webb awarded a penalty when Walcott tangled with Jonny Evans in the area. De Gea has had a mixed start to his Old Trafford career but he was engulfed by his team-mates as he dived to his right to make a fine save. And United ensured Arsenal were punished heavily as Young added the second after 28 minutes. Young found space just outside the area and curled a perfect finish high beyond Szczesny's grasp at the Stretford End. Welbeck's game was cut short by a hamstring injury - but there was no respite for Arsenal as Rooney worked a free-kick routine with Young to send a 20-yard free-kick into the top corner as the interval approached. Walcott halted some of United's momentum when he took advantage of slack marking to shoot beneath De Gea in first-half injury time. It made little difference amid the carnage of the second half as Arsenal were torn apart amid a torrent of goals, near misses and saves from the desperately exposed Szczesny. Arsenal survived until the 64th minute when they were undone by another piece of Rooney creation at a set-piece, again linking with Young before dispatching the finish past the motionless Arsenal keeper. It was the breaking point for Arsenal and they spent the remainder of game in a constant state of siege. Rooney was the creator for Nani with the pass that gave the Portuguese the opportunity to send a flamboyant chipped finish over Szczesny for United's fifth. With the Gunners in disarray, Park marked his arrival as substitute by lashing home an unstoppable finish before Van Persie briefly interrupted the one-way flow towards Arsenal's goal by beating De Gea. It barely seemed possible for matters to get worse for Arsenal, but the agony increased when Jenkinson was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for fouling Javier Hernandez as he raced clear. Rooney completed his thrilling treble with a penalty eight minutes from time after Walcott fouled Patrice Evra. And United completed the scoring with their eighth in injury time, Young once again showing his eye for the spectacular with another curling shot. Wenger cut a despairing figure as he walked back to the dressing room at the final whistle after one of the darkest days of his career.

Match Report: WBA 1 Manchester United 2

A late own goal spared goalkeeper David de Gea's blushes as Manchester United began their defence of the Premier League title with victory at West Brom. Wayne Rooney scored early on when he combined with Fabio and Ashley Young to drill in a low effort. Shane Long equalised on his competitive debut for West Brom when his tame effort crept under the body of De Gea. United grabbed the winner when Young's cross from the left took a deflection off Steven Reid and beat Ben Foster. In the end luck was on the side of United, who had dominated for much of the first half but seemed devoid of bright ideas after the break. Had Reid not put through his own net then De Gea's error would have been highlighted on Monday's back pages, although it is unlikely his moment to forget will pass without comment. In the past Ferguson's Achilles heel has been the man wearing the number one jersey and on Sunday De Gea may have made his manager consider whether he was right to throw the 20-year-old straight into the first team. Other young players such as Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck have been loaned out to gain experience before being handed their first-team opportunity, but Ferguson had no hesitation in giving the £18m summer signing his league debut. Rooney opens the scoring early on The Spanish stopper looked impressive when he took up a good position and then stayed on his feet to palm away a fierce strike from Paul Scharner. However, he appeared weak when balls were floated into the area. Yet it was not a teasing cross that outfoxed De Gea for the West Brom goal but a weak strike that drifted under his body. Up until the equaliser, United were in control and some fans must have been wondering how many the champions would score after Rooney drilled home in the 13th minute. The England striker linked with up with Fabio and Young before shifting inside the area and firing low into Foster's bottom left corner. United produced some controlled pinball in and around the penalty area. Nani, Rooney and Danny Welbeck knocked one-touch passes between themselves before Nani scooped over. Moments later, the Portugal international fired over again when former United keeper Foster failed to deal with a cross. The visitors' setup was upset after the break when centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were forced to come off with injuries. The average age of the starting XI was 23.9 years and that was lowered when Jonny Evans and Phil Jones came on as replacements. It was lucky for the pair that only Long's movement and Somen Tchoyi's crossing raised their heartrates during the second half. At the other end, United replaced Welbeck with experienced striker Dimitar Berbatov, hoping that a moment of Bulgarian magic would gift them victory. But as it was, it was a moment of good fortune which gave the champions the perfect start.

Schalke 0-2 Manchester United:match report

Manchester United strolled past Schalke in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final to all but secure their place in the final at Wembley next month.Goals from Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney sealed a ridiculously comfortable win for Manchester United over a dire Schalke outfit in Gelsenkirchen.Although United travel back to Manchester with a two goal cushion that virtually ensures they will meet Barcelona or Real Madrid in the final next month, they could have conceivably scored five or more goals such was their dominance and the amount of chances they created on the night.

One-time United target and Bayern Munich bound goalkeeper Manuel Neuer proved to be a thorn in the visitors’ side in the first half, pulling off magnificent saves from Ryan Giggs, Ji-Sung Park and Javier Hernandez, who could have easily bagged a hat-trick in the first period alone.Schalke, who hardly got a touch of the ball in the opening 45 minutes, somehow managed to keep Sir Alex Ferguson’s side at bay despite the persistent promptings of Giggs, Rooney, Hernandez and an impressive Antonio Valencia on the right flank.A United goal was inevitable, however, and it arrived through the ageless Ryan Giggs after 67 minutes. Wayne Rooney produced a lovely reverse pass to release the veteran midfielder, who finally managed to beat Neuer by slipping the ball through his legs.
Having finally broken the deadlock, United went for the jugular and grabbed a second goal only two minutes after the opener through the magnificent Wayne Rooney.A long ball by Edwin van der Sar was knocked through to Hernandez by Valencia, Hernandez dinked a lovely ball through to Rooney and the England international made no mistake from close range.Confident that the game and perhaps the tie was wrapped up, Sir Alex Ferguson made a host of changes in the last quarter and saw his side confidently finish the game out.

The Red Devils remain unbeaten in Europe this season, have yet to concede a goal away from home and looked like a side high on confidence coming into such a crucial period of the season.What shouldn’t be overlooked, however, is how poorly Schalke performed on the night, with the German outfit looking more like a side that currently lie tenth in the Bundesliga and nothing like the team that knocked reigning champions Inter Milan out of the competition in the quarter-finals.