United stay on top with Sunderland win

Manchester United maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 3-1 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford.

Tom Cleverley scores Manchester United's second goal against Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday. Pic/AFP.

United had seen their advantage at the summit cut after champions Manchester City won by the same scoreline at Newcastle in the lunchtime kick-off.u00a0But Sir Alex Ferguson's side produced a convincing response with Robin van Persie and Tom Cleverley netting inside the opening 20 minutes.

Van Persie then brilliantly set up Wayne Rooney on the hour to seal a fifth consecutive league win.u00a0Substitute Fraizer Campbell grabbed a consolation for the Black Cats on 72 minutes.

Man City win at Newcastle

Manchester City showed no ill-effects of their 3-2 loss against cross-town rivals Manchester United in their 3-1 win at Newcastle United on Saturday.u00a0The champions took the lead in the 10th minute with a beautifully crafted goal St James' Park.

Stand-in captain Yaya Toure split the home defence with a delicately weighted pass down the inside-right channel and Samir Nasri showed excellent awareness to roll the ball square for Sergio Aguero to tap into an empty net. Javi Garcia claimed City's second in the 39th minute with a header from a left-wing corner.

Newcastle hit back six minutes into the second half with Demba Ba beating City goalkeeper Joe Hart to Fabio Coloccini's hooked cross to head home, but Toure touched in Pablo Zabaleta's 78th-minute centre to make the points safe.

Other EPL Results:

Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa
Norwich 2-1 Wigan
QPR 2-1 Fulham
Stoke 1-1 Everton