Man United move top as Arsenal slip again

Of the four English UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists, Arsenal FC were the only team not to win on Saturday - a home draw against Middlesbrough FC costing them the Premier League leadership after Manchester United FC triumphed at Derby County FC.

Touré leveller
Middlesbrough are the only team to defeat the Gunners in the top flight this season, and Gareth Southgate's side were on course for a memorable double thanks to Jérémie Aliadiere's 25th-minute opener with four minutes remaining, when Kolo Touré bundled the ball in following a corner. Arsenal have now drawn their last four league outings to relinquish top spot on goal difference to United, who have a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

Ronaldo winner
Cristiano Ronaldo was the champions' match-winner at Pride Park, finally breaking the resistance of the beleaguered bottom club with a 76th-minute winner - his 22nd top-flight goal of the season. Chelsea FC are also firmly in contention three points further back, John Terry (10) scoring the only goal at Sunderland AFC.

Torres goal
Liverpool FC, meanwhile, came from behind to beat Reading FC 2-1 at Anfield. Marek Matejovsky (5) put Reading ahead, but goals from Javier Mascherano (19) and Fernando Torres (48) ensured a fifth successive league triumph for the Reds, who are three points ahead of Everton FC in fourth ahead of their city rivals' trip to Fulham FC on Sunday.

Defoe delight
Jermain Defoe's sixth goal in as many matches for Portsmouth FC set the south-coast club on their way to a 2-0 victory against fellow European hopefuls Aston Villa FC. Nigel Reo Coker also put through his own net as Villa were leapfrogged into sixth by the FA Cup semi-finalists. Finally, 18-year-old substitute Fred Sears enjoyed a debut to remember as he scored an 81st-minute winner as West Ham United FC came from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers FC 2-1 and consolidate tenth spot.

Everton FC handed control to city rivals Liverpool FC in the race for the final UEFA Champions League qualification place after a 1-0 defeat at struggling Fulham FC.

Fourth victory
Despite both sides needing the three points for very different reasons, neither team was able to fashion any major chances of note during the opening period. However, Fulham upped the tempo after the restart and were rewarded when two former Everton players combined, Simon Davies' cross from the right being headed past Tim Howard by Brian McBride after 67 minutes. David Moyes' team offered little by way of response and remain fifth, three points behind Liverpool. Fulham's victory, just their fourth of the campaign, leaves the London club three points adrift of fourth-bottom Birmingham City FC on 23 points.