United Stay On Top, Liverpool Keep the Pressure On, Arsenal Keep Marching

Fulham 0-1 Liverpool

A determined Liverpool performance was enough to see off the North London outfit. The home side was pegged back in their own half by a strong Liverpool midfield that was missing Argentine lynchpin Javier Mascherrano.

Liverpool dominated the proceedings in the first half, playing magical football and hitting the woodwork four times in the process, twice by Dossena and one each for Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres. Indeed Liverpool started the game like a man possessed, playing at a frantic pace, running after every ball and monopolizing possession.

The visitors however went into halftime with a goalless draw, thanks to the heroics of Fulham's Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and thanks to the woodwork which denied Liverpool four times.

Fulham improved defensively in the second half, as midfield duo Etuhu and Danny Murphy started competing more with Liverpool's midfield. Liverpool rarely troubled Schwarzer in the second half, seeing this, Rafa Benitez decided to shuffle his pack a bit, and took out the largely ineffective Italian fullback turned winger Andrea Dossena. In came Dutch winger Ryan Babel.

The second substitution which also proved to be the vital substitution was taking out hard working winger/forward Dirk Kuyt for Israeli attacking midfielder Yossi Benayoun. Indeed it did prove vital as Benayoun scored a 93rd minute goal, which was Liverpool's eighth stoppage time winner of the season. Testimony to the mental strength Liverpool possess and Rafa's motivation skills.

On another day Liverpool would have scored four or more with the chances they spurned, but Rafa Benitez won't be too bothered, as he got the required three points in the bag. Liverpool top of the league (for 23 hours, at least)

Arsenal 2-0 Man City

Arsenal captain and Spanish wizard returned to inspire his team as two goals from Togo hitman Emmanuel Adebayor were enough to secure victory over a lacklustre Man City side.

Fabregas was injured and absent for more than three months but he marked his comeback with familiar style as he created both goals for Adebayor. The first, an accurately taken set piece that was headed in by Adebayor. The second a Delicious chip that released Adebayor to a one on one with City keeper Joe Hart.

Indeed the young Spaniard looked like he was never out, bossing the midfield, dictating the tempo, distributing the ball around and linking up with his teammates. He is the real engine in Arsenal's midfield. A timely boost ahead of the Champions League showdown against Spanish pretenders Villareal.

Man City were poor throughout the match which made it easy for the North London outfit. Robinho was obviously fatigued, and his strike partner Craig Bellamy was invisible for large portions of the game.

Arsenal are now ahead of fifth placed Aston Villa with six points, it will stay that way providing Man Utd beat Aston Villa on Sunday.

Man Utd 3-2 Aston Villa

A champion's performance by the Red Devils showed the world exactly why they are running English and European champions.

A Manchester side that was deprived of the services of suspended trio, Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney. Also missing for Man Utd were the injured duo Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand.

United started the game with the returning Gary Neville and the young Irishman Johnny Evans at centerback. The absence of key defenders Ferdinand and Vidic showed from the start of the game as Villa put pressure on United's vulnerable defense. But it was United who scored first, when Friedel committed a beginners mistake by holding on to Milners back pass in the 14th minute. The result was an indirect free kick in Villa's penalty zone that was duly converted by FIFA World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.

Aston Villa replied soon enough though, with a  strong header by Norwegian big man John Carew in the 30th minute. Carew took advantage of the space between Neville and Evans, the pair obviously didn't work together. An exciting first half to a game that promised so much ended in a 1-1 draw.

The second half started, and Man Utd attacked Aston Villa from the start. But it was Villa who scored first when a counter attack led by John Carew ended up in a converted header by young and promising English striker Gabby Agbonlahor. Gabby had been going through a poor patch of form and was even dropped by O'Neil in the last game against Liverpool. But Heskey sustained an injury before the game, and Gabby was back to the starting lineup, and what a way to prove a point to your manager.

Sir Alex took Nani out for relatively unknown Italian youngster Federico Macheda. That in itself said volumes about United's injury problems, but it was this unknown Italian that burst into the scene to score the winner in the 93rd minute of time after Ronaldo had equalised in the 80th minute.

A vital win for United at a vital time, they could remember this game when or if they win the title, and they have 17-year-old Macheda to thank for that.