1 Feb 2012

United move level with City in Premier League race

11:42 am on 1 February 2012

Manchester United moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the English football Premier League after Alex Ferguson's side overcame Stoke 2-nil and City stumbled to a 1-nil defeat at Everton.

United, who trail their rivals solely on goal difference, eased past Stoke thanks to two penalties at Old Trafford from Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov.

City and United have 54 points from 23 matches, five ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs cemented third place after Gareth Bale scored twice in a 3-1 romp over bottom side Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane.

A stoppage-time own goal by Neil Taylor rescued a point for fourth-placed Chelsea, on 42 points, who escaped from Swansea City's Liberty stadium with a 1-all draw.

The Liverpool striker Andy Carroll ended his goal drought to help fire the Anfield side up one place to fifth, above inactive Arsenal, after a 3-0 victory at struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers who remain in the bottom three.