Manchester United's [ Images ] relentless surge towards a 20th English title continued with Shinji Kagawa's hat-trick inspiring a 4-0 home win over Norwich City on Saturday but Ryan Giggs [ Images ] must wait a little longer for his 1,000 appearance after being rested.
In Giggs' absence Japan [ Images ] international Kagawa took centre stage with a stunning display, opening the scoring on the stroke of halftime and scoring twice more in the second half to become the first Asian to score a hat-trick in the Premier League.
Wayne Rooney [ Images ] rounded off victory with a late screamer to send United 15 points clear of champions Manchester City [ Images ] who are away at Aston Villa [ Images ] on Monday.
The anticipated hostility towards interim manager Rafa Benitez [ Images ] failed to materialise at Stamford Bridge [ Images ] where his Chelsea [ Images ] side climbed to third spot with Demba Ba's first-half goal earning a 1-0 win against West Bromwich Albion [ Images ].
Everton revived their flagging hopes of a top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League [ Images ] with a 3-1 defeat of Reading. They moved to within six points of fourth-placed Tottenham and two of fifth-placed Arsenal [ Images ] ahead of Sunday's derby between the north London [ Images ] rivals.
Bottom club Queens Park Rangers capitalised on Reading's defeat, winning 2-1 at Southampton to leave Harry Redknapp's [ Images ] side four points adrift of fourth from bottom Wigan Athletic who host Liverpool later on Saturday.
League Cup winners Swansea City avoided any hangover with a 1-0 home win against Newcastle United, Sunderland hit back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 at home to Fulham [ Images ] and West Ham United eased any relegation fears with a 1-0 win at Stoke City [ Images ].
Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
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