IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday.
With a 20th league title virtually in the bag and no more European distractions, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is challenging his side to push for a Premier League points record.
Liverpool ended their 85-year Manchester United jinx when a first-half Peter Crouch header gave them a 1-0 win in the FA Cup fifth round.
Manchester United edged closer to their 20th league title when a Titus Bramble own goal gave them a 1-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday to keep them 15 points clear of Manchester City with eight Premier League games to go.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday.
A new year is born but Arsenal still frustrate their fans after summing up the season by beating Europa League combatants Newcastle United 7-3 at the weekend and then needing an own goal to draw 1-1 at lowly Southampton.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Manchester United missed the chance to make significant inroads into Manchester City's lead at the top of the Premier League after stumbling to a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
ManchesterCity moved up to third in the Premier League on Saturday while Newcastle United boosted their hopes of survival by coming back from two goals down at Liverpool to draw 2-2 and secure a precious point.
Manchester City went top of the Premier League after securing a controversial 2-0 win at Newcastle United on Sunday with an early Edin Dzeko goal and a stoppage time effort from Alvaro Negredo.
Champions Manchester United will travel to Swansea City for their first Premier League match under new manager David Moyes while Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City are at home to Newcastle United on August 17.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
He donned the number seven shirt during his first stint at the club, following in the footsteps of great United players including George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.
Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus' second-half goals gave West Ham a 2-0 win over Manchester United in the Premier League's early game on Saturday, as the Hammers briefly moved into the top six.
Ronaldo's moments of brilliance, however, are getting ever rarer. Even in the Europa League, where he has started all four matches against mediocre opponents such as Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia Nicosia, he has only scored once, off a penalty.
'I can't give you a time but we will get there. We have given ourselves a big, big uphill task to get in the top four, never mind the top six'
Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy's opportunistic goal gave them a 1-0 victory over Birmingham City in the English premiership.
A round-up of Sunday's action in the Premier League.
Images from Wednesday's action in the English Premier League.
Manchester United are three points clear of champions Chelsea in the Premier League.
There was no way through for Chelsea as Watford halted their recent resurgence in a goalless Premier League stalemate at Vicarage Road while Everton piled more woe on Newcastle United with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday.
Nuno's coaching staff have also been relieved of their duties. The club have not yet announced a replacement but British media reported former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte is linked.
A summary of Sunday's Premier League matches
Livewire striker Javier Hernandez struck six minutes from time to give Manchester United a 1-0 home win over Everton that extended their Premier League lead to nine points on Saturday.
A Titus Bramble own goal helped Manchester United edge closer to their 20th league title when they won 1-0 at Sunderland on Saturday to stay 15 points clear of champions Manchester City with only eight Premier League games left to play.
Chelsea narrowed Manchester United's lead in the Premier League to four points on Tuesday with a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth while Liverpool also kept their slender title hopes alive with a 2-0 defeat of Sunderland. United have two games in hand on both, starting with their trip to struggling Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Michael Owen struck twice in his first game of the season as Manchester United thrashed bitter rivals Leeds United 3-0 in a League Cup third-round tie at Elland Road on Tuesday.
Ronaldo enjoyed a dream first appearance on his return to the club, scoring two goals in the 4-1 home victory over Newcastle United.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Manchester United remain winless at home in the league this season after Arsenal enjoyed their first win at Old Trafford
Aston Villa beat Crystal Palace 1-0 to win a Premier League match for the first time since August while a late goal from Paul Dummett earned a 3-3 draw for Newcastle United against Manchester United on Tuesday.
Arsenal restored their five-point lead at the top of the English Premier League with Eddie Nketiah scoring twice in a 3-2 defeat of Manchester United, including a 90th-minute winner.
Champions Manchester City slipped to a shock first Premier League defeat of the season at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, while Manchester United's campaign of woe continued with a loss to Crystal Palace.
Manchester United needed a stunning second-half equaliser from Wayne Rooney and a rare goal from Wes Brown to beat Newcastle United 2-1.
Reach fifth round for first time in 10 years
Manchester United took a huge step towards retaining their Premier League title when they beat West Ham United 4-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday after playing more than half the match with 10 men.
Liverpool's slim Premier League title hopes faded further on Saturday when Michail Antonio's late header earned West Ham United a deserved point with a 2-2 draw.
Manchester United will be back in action in next season's Champions League after they hammered Chelsea 4-1.
Champions Manchester United begin the second half of their Premier League title defence at the top of the league on Saturday but manager Alex Ferguson will be hoping for better luck at West Ham United.
Saturday's EPL meeting is crucial as champions United were beaten home and away by West Ham last year.
