Top two fall, Ruud strikes three

League leaders Arsenal and Liverpool were both beaten 3-2 while a Ruud van Nistelrooy hat-trick fired Manchester United to a 5-3 victory ove...

League leaders Arsenal and Liverpool were both beaten 3-2 while a Ruud van Nistelrooy hat-trick fired Manchester United to a 5-3 victory over Newcastle United in a premier league goal bonanza on Saturday.

Arsenal came unstuck at St Mary’s, where Southampton have not been beaten all season, and also had England defender Sol Campbell sent off for a foul which cost them a penalty.

Liverpool went down to Fulham after two goals from the hosts’ Argentine striker Facundo Sava, while Chelsea snatched a 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers.

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Everton clocked up their sixth consecutive league win by beating West Bromwich Albion 1-0, but there were more goals galore in Aston Villa’s 4-1 win over struggling West Ham United. Fulham’s Facundo Sava scored twice and was claiming a hat-trick after Sean Davis’ first half shot deflected off him for the home side’s second goal.

Liverpool threatened a comeback when Dietmar Hamann connected with a free kick to reduce the arrears to 2-1 after an hour, while substitute Milan Baros grabbed another with five minutes to go.

The defeat leaves them a point behind league leaders Arsenal, who lost 3-2 at Southampton on Saturday. Having exited the Champions League at the first phase earlier this month, this latest setback also intensified Houllier’s problems. (Reuters)