BPL: Man United stop rot, Liverpool thrash Spurs

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Beaten by Everton and Newcastle United in their previous two league outings, Manchester United were at risk of losing three successive games for the first time since 2001, but they were dominant in a 3-0 win at Villa Park.

A quick-fire brace from Danny Welbeck put United in control after only 18 minutes and they added a further goal through Tom Cleverley as they closed to within 10 points of leaders Arsenal.

Villa, who have not beaten United at home since 1995, remain 11th in the table.

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Having seen Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton steal in front of them on Saturday, Liverpool returned to second place with a very impressive success over 10-man Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Captain for the day in the absence of Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez put Liverpool ahead in the 18th minute when he took the ball past Michael Dawson and Kyle Walker before curling home a low shot.

Philippe Coutinho hit the bar, Glen Johnson shot just over and Hugo Lloris blocked from Suarez before Jordan Henderson doubled the visitors' lead in the 40th minute.

Lloris stood up to save from Henderson and then blocked Suarez's follow-up, but he was beaten at the third attempt as the former Sunderland midfielder crashed a volley into the bottom-right corner.

Spurs' hopes of a comeback were effectively ended when Paulinho was sent off in the 63rd minute for catching Suarez in the chest with his foot.

Full-back Jon Flanagan made it 3-0, slamming a difficult half-volley in off the bar from Suarez's cross, and Suarez added a fourth with a delicate lob before teeing up Raheem Sterling for the fifth.

Liverpool finished the weekend two points behind leaders Arsenal and above third-place Chelsea on goal difference, with Spurs five points below the Champions League places after a first defeat in four league games.

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In the day's other fixture, Swansea City drew 1-1 at Norwich City in a match overshadowed by an injury to visiting goalscorer Nathan Dyer.

He broke the deadlock with a 12th-minute lob but had to be stretchered off and taken to hospital with a suspected fractured ankle after injuring himself in a duel with Sebastien Bassong.

Gary Hooper earned Norwich a share of the spoils in first-half stoppage time, finding the net from 25 yards with a sumptuous, dipping volley.