Manchester United edged Everton and chase Arsenal

The talented Cristiano Ronaldo netted two goals for Manchester United as it beat Everton 2-1 in English soccer's Premier League to maintain pressure on first-place Arsenal.

Indeed, Ronaldo converted a penalty kick in the 88th minute to give United a ninth straight victory at its Old Trafford stadium, ending Everton's 13-game unbeaten run.

Defending champion Manchester United moves to 42 points from 18 matches, one point behind Arsenal. Chelsea, which is at Blackburn later today, has 34 points from 17 games, ahead of Manchester City because of a superior goal difference. Everton, in sixth spot, has 30 points.

Ronaldo got the opening goal today in the 22nd minute after collecting a pass from argentine star Carlos Tevez. The Portugal winger stepped past a challenge from Lee Carsley before firing a shot past ex- United goalkeeper Tim Howard.

We can say that Everton tied the game five minutes later when Tim Cahill rose above Patrice Evra to head into the net from a cross by Steven Pienaar.

United pressed after halftime, with Tevez and Anderson both testing Howard. Striker Wayne Rooney hit a 20-yard effort which just cleared the bar.

The exciting clash appeared set for a draw until Pienaar tripped Ryan Giggs in the penalty area with two minutes remaining. Ronaldo scored from the spot-kick for his 16th goal of the season.

Carlos Tevez is closer to sign for Manchester United

According to many sources, Manchester United are very close to signing talented forward Carlos Tevez from West Ham. And the club manager confirms the issue.

Sir Alex Ferguson said that Tevez is really close to the Old Trafford. But the player is currently at the center of a major transfer wrangle with the Premier League refusing to sanction the £30mil move even though terms have been agreed with the player's agent Kia Joorabchian.

But the Premier League claims the transfer must be “done directly” with West Ham rather than his agent.

“I am sure the outcome will be that we will be taking him,” said the Manchester United coach.

In fact, the club is sure that a deal can be reached by the time Tevez's current commitments with Argentina at the Copa America are concluded at the weekend, if Argentina reach the final.

Gary Neville says rivals underestimated their potential and helped them win the Premiership

Veteran defender Gary Neville is convinced that one of the major factors, which led to his club being crowned the Premier League champions last season, was that the rival teams underestimated the Red Devils' strength.

“I think nobody thought Manchester United would win the Premier League last season,” expressed the England international player.

“And in the end, it seems that they underestimated us. They underestimated the knowledge and class of our manager. For two to three years we had been in suffering. At the start of the season we added Michael Carrick to our team and lost Ruud van Nistelrooy. But Chelsea added Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack from Bayern.

“However, the coach knew what he was doing over a period of two years in building a new team and now we are in a fantastic position.

“Indeed, last season we played the best football, the most attacking and entertaining football - and we deserved to win the title.

It's relevant to say that Neville, 32, who had an ankle injury and a subsequent surgery, is targeting a return to perfect shape for the first encounter against Reading on home turf on August 12.

Manchester United have moved swiftly in the summer transfer market to sign in Owen Hargreaves, Anderson and Nani.

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to stay at the Old Trafford

Manchester United's star Cristiano Ronaldo is showing the most important level of his career this season, but has persistently been linked with the Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona.

However, he has an existing contract at Manchester United that takes him to 2010, and he has now said: "It is a good sign to know I have so many important clubs interested in me, such as Real Madrid."

"That means that I am valued. But I am absolutely happy where I am and I hope to stay at Manchester United for many years."

Right now, Cristiano Ronaldo is with the Portuguese team preparing for their Euro 2008 qualifier with Serbia on Wednesday.

His amazing form this season was maintained for his country at the weekend when he cored twice for Portugal in a resounding 4-0 triumph over Belgium.

What's more, Ronaldo has already netted 16 Premiership goals during United's assault on the title, plus two more in the FA Cup.

Asked if he was the best player in the world at the moment, the talented Portuguese replied: "The United players are by my side - but of course I believe I am one of the best."

"I think I have a good contract, in financial terms, but what really matters to me is to show my best form," he concluded.

Manchester United was beaten by Arsenal

Premier League leaders Manchester United had a bad night and lost to Arsenal FC. However, their rivals in the race for the title, Chelsea, also got a bad result.

Indeed, United was beaten 2-1 by Arsenal on Sunday. That result, along with Chelsea's game, who went down 2-0 at Liverpool on Saturday, have left England's top four clubs separated by a modest 12 points -- with another 42 to play for.

Ferguson's team just couldn't beat Arsenal and seize a probably decisive nine-point lead over Chelsea was certainly galling for their coach, but the last 10 minutes were heart-stopping stuff to watch.

Young talent Wayne Rooney headed United in front early in the second half and it seemed they were on course to extend their lead at the top of the Premiership to nine points.

However, substitute Robin van Persie equalised with seven minutes of normal time remaining and French star Thierry Henry headed the winner three minutes into injury-time.

But Unfortunately van Persie's celebrations were cut short when he sustained a "partial fracture" to his foot after scoring the equaliser. The hospital comfirmed the fact.

Now, Manchester United remain six points clear of Chelsea at the top of the table, while Arsenal are one point behind Liverpool in fourth positon of the English Premier League.

Red Devils win over Reading and get a six point lead

Once again, Cristiano Ronaldo had a great performance. The Portuguese player netted his sixth goal in three games, and host Manchester United beat Reading 3-2 on Saturday to move six points ahead of Chelsea in the Premiership.

In the other game, Chelsea, the two-time defending champions, tied Fulham 2-2 in London. Now Mourinho's team have dropped four points in two home games in five days after Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Reading.

The game we are talking about took place at Old Trafford, where Ole Gunner Solskjaer also scored for the Red Devils' 17th league win this season, one day before manager Alex Ferguson's 65th birthday. Ibrahima Sonko and Leroy Lita scored for Reading.

"It's been a really good day for us," Ferguson admitted. "Some of our football was very good. The play was excellent at times."

"Despite that, I saw that we had our worst defending of the season. It was a slack goal for us to lose," he expressed of Reading's 89th-minute goal. "We resorted to playing safe football instead of playing the football we like to create."

Smith stays at Manchester

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has strongly denied that one of his strikers, Alan Smith, will leave the Manchester United in 2007.

Actually, Smith is undergoing an intensive fitness programme in his effort to return to peak condition after his double leg fracture in February this year.

We must consider that that Everton are plotting a £6million bid for the striker when the transfer window reopens. However, Ferguson with his statement today has certainly cleared the air over the 26-year-old England international’s future.

“The player remains part of United's plans for the second half of the season,” Ferguson said.

“Alan is doing very well at the moment and our speed programme has had an immediate effect. We have seen a tremendous improvement in him over the last month.”

“And he is certainly not far away now. I wanted to take him down to West Ham, but he didn't want to go. He just wanted to stay and train on his own. He deserves great credit for that because it is not simple.”

“He doesn't want to travel again tomorrow, so he will be training again.”

The manager who was favouring a loan stint for Smith at Cardiff City earlier in the season, felt that the striker had perhaps made the right decision in rejecting the transfer.

But Ferguson announced: "He did the right thing. He could have gone and played games, but not been 100 per cent to play in them, whether it is the Tournament or the Premier League. Instead we worked out a programme to improve his speed that he has really taken to.”

Manchester United beat Benfica to advance in the Champions League

In a really important game, Manchester United stormed back from a goal down to assure thier presence in the Champions League knockout phase with a 3-1 triumph over Benfica on Wednesday.

Indeed, Ferguson's team, who were knocked out at this stage of last season's competition by the Portuguese side, were trailing to a superb 27th minute strike by Nelson before Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic headed an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

The home squad came out fighting after the break and capitalised on some poor defending as Ryan Giggs headed them in front in the 61st minute and French forward Louis Saha sealed the win with their third goal in the 75th minute.

It's important to say that defeat for Benfica dumped a stylish team out of the competition, with United finishing top of Group F and joined in the next round by Scotish side Celtic.

The Derby ended 1-1

It was a really tough game for both squads. But the most incredible part was when Ricardo Carvalho muscled in a second-half header to earn visiting Chelsea a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday.

In the most important derby of the week, Louis Saha gave United a first-half lead in the 29th minute with a wonderful piece of skill, bending the ball past Carlo Cudicini.

In fact, the encounter developed an intriguing ebb and flow in the second half as Saha twice went close, while Frank Lampard rained in a series of shots in reply.

That's when Carvalho earned Chelsea that point when he powered a header past Edwin van der Sar from a Lampard corner in the 69th minute.

We have to say that if Manchester United had the better of the first half, Chelsea were well worth the draw given their impressive second-half display.

What's more, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho brought on Arjen Robben for Geremi at the restart, a switch that entailed Michael Essien dropping to right-back.

That lineup provided Chelsea with greater attacking fluidity, with Essien superb in the way he surged forward from his defensive place on the pitch.

Saha is becoming a vital striker

French striker is becoming important for Manchester United. And this time it was against Blackburn Rovers, scoring the only goal to get a tough victory.

When United coach, sir Alex Ferguson, is willing to allow Alan Smith to leave Manchester United on loan, the vital role to be played by Louis Saha in this season's title race was underlined here when the French international forward scored a really good winning goal while his partner Wayne Rooney squandered three incredible chances.

Indeed, Saha struck his eighth goal of the season, with an accomplished 63rd-minute hooked shot from six yards - a superb, predatory finish after Rooney, who had been denied for a third time by Brad Friedel from close range just a minute earlier, played a wide ball to John O'Shea whose centre was brilliantly turned across goal by midfielder Ryan Giggs.

We must say that Ferguson thought the performance praiseworthy: "Louis is in good form. He's a threat with good pace and power and he's a great balance to the squad.

"It was a feisty match with a lot of challenges and tackles, and a good result and a great performance by us because in the past we have come here and played better and lost - last season we scored three times and lost 4-3."

Finally free of injury, French striker Saha looks a devastatingly effective finisher, in stark contrast to the efforts of Rooney yesterday, although Ferguson's decision to allow Smith to leave Manchester, at a time when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is out injured and Saha and Rooney both have a long history of their own injury troubles behind them, looks a calculated gamble.

However, as long as Saha is in such form, Ferguson's hopes of continuing his team's impressive start to the season and maintaining the pressure on defending champions Chelsea look fine.

"The important thing is Chelsea have done fantastic the last two years, winning the league early on and making it difficult for us all," Ferguson admitted. "But at least this good start must give us a chance"

"A lot of things come into consideration. You've got to get through December, which is always tough, and by January you have a great idea of who's going to contest and who's going to be involved in relegation. That's a pivotal time. Hopefully, if we can keep our good performance and keep the injury situation low, we will be there."

Powerfull attack in the Carling Cup

Manchester stars Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo could be unleashed on Southend on Tuesday as the team look to book a place in the Carling Cup quarter-finals.

Indeed, Manchester United needed a late extra-time goal to get past Crewe a fortnight ago, and Sir Alex Ferguson has vowed to field a much stronger side at Roots Hall, with only Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar missing the game.

It's important to consider that Ryan Shawcross, David Jones, David Gray and Crewe hero Kieran Lee will all be involved but apart from those youngsters, the remainder of United's line-up will be from his first-team squad. Even if Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo do make the trip, they seem certain to start on the bench.

In the other side, Southend will be without Matt Harrold when they host the holders.

The talented forward, who scored Southend's goal in the 3-1 defeat by Wolves at the weekend, is cup-tied having turned out for former club Yeovil in round one.

According to the club, with fellow forwards Lee Bradbury (hip) and Billy Paynter (hamstring) still on the injury list, Gary Hooper is likely to partner Freddy Eastwood in attack.

What's more, defender Adam Barrett is a doubt after missing the Wolves match with a stomach problem, with Spencer Prior ready to step in.

United lost a game and a player

One of the most beloved players in Manchester, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has been ruled out for a few weeks after injuring his hamstring in his team's Champions League defeat to FC Copenhagen.

In fact, the Norwegian striker only recently returned from serious knee problems that had sidelined him for two years.

That's why Sir Alex Ferguson expressed: "It's unfortunate for Ole but I am actually quite happy. Given his previous history of knee problems, I was a bit concerned but, fortunately, it is only a hamstring. He will be out for a few weeks."

It's important to mention that Solskjaer is currently United's leading scorer with six goals this season.

Rooney's hat trick help United beat Bolton

Talented striker Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick to end a 10-match drought to lead Manchester United to a 4-0 Premier League victory against Bolton.

It's great to know that Rooney’s goals were his first for club or country since he scored twice in United’s season-opening 5-1 win over Fulham on August 20.

“I think there has been a lot of talk by a lot of people over the last few weeks saying I couldn’t do it any more, stuff like that, so the feeling when the first goal went in was brilliant. To finish the hat-trick was nice. I am really happy just to be back among the goals again and to have secured the three points in what was a big match for us.”

Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo got the other goal as United stayed top of the league with 25 points, leading champion Chelsea on goal difference.

Now, Bolton is third with 20 points, followed by Portsmouth on 19 and Arsenal on 18.

“Chelsea FC have laid down a marker but we want to challenge them,” Manchester United bossman, Sir Alex Ferguson, said. “There is a growing confidence within the club, we are looking very strong and we will have a great go.”

Wayne Rooney opened the scoring in the 10th minute from a cross by Michael Carrick and made it 2-0 six minutes later when he curled the ball into the corner of the net beyond the reach of keeper Jaaskelainen.

And Cristiano Ronaldo scored before Rooney completed the scoring in the 89th from a cross by Darren Fletcher.

“Apart from the third goal, there was very little we could do to stop him,” Bolton coach Sam Allardyce claims. “The first two were magnificent goals made of outstanding quality.”

For the records, it was the second hat-trick in the 21-year-old Rooney’s career. His first was two years ago on his Champions League debut against Fenerbahce.

Manchester United and Liverpool will heath up the Premiership

The Old Trafford stadium will host the biggest game of the weekend in the English Premiership. Indeed, first place Manchester United face their first true test of the season against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. Ferguson's team, top on goal difference from champions Chelsea, have enjoyed an excellent start to the season and made it three wins out of three in the Champions League in midweek.

We must consider that with Wayne Rooney looking more like his old self, United should be at full strength, with Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand likely to return after missing the win over FC Copenhagen.

But though their start has been impressive, they have played just two teams in the top half of the table. Liverpool, on the other hand, have made a faltering start with just 11 points from their first eight clashes, and their away record has been really bad.

But a 1-0 midweek win in Bordeaux will have lifted their confidence and defender Sami Hyypia is convinced that Liverpool have turned a corner.

"Sometimes you need to go back to basics and make it the main objective not to allow the opposition to score," the Finn admitted.

"This was an example of that, to make sure we get the defending right and then take whatever opportunity came our way.

"We know it is a big game and how important it is for the fans.

"I know we're a long way from the top, so it's even more important, but you never want to take extra pressure into a game like this. We're not going to go there thinking we must not lose. We go into every match thinking we want to win."

United is after Nani

Manchester United are eyeing a move for Sporting Lisbon new talent Nani - but have been warned he is not for sale in January's transfer window.

The British club swooped to take Cristiano Ronaldo from the same club for £12.25million in 2003.

And now boss Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant Carlos Queiroz has identified the 19-year-old Nani as another potential top star of the future.

The right-sided midfield footballer was a key figure in Sporting's second-place finish in the league last season and has already netted three times in six games this term.

He is contracted to the Lisbon outfit until 2008 and his club want to extend it by two or three years, while also eager to insert a clause stating that he cannot be sold for less than £17.5million during that period.

Sporting president Filipe Soares told The Manchester Evening News: "Nani is not for sale today - and neither in the winter market. At this moment we are not interested in any business."

Nani himself is fired up by the interest from United and wants to move at some point.

"If I leave at any time it would be to go to a great team. I am young and very ambitious," he expressed.