United bridge gap to Chelsea

Manchester United emerged victorious from Sunday’s clash of the titans with an entertaining 3-2 win over high-flying Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s 9/4 Red Devils took a two-goal lead through David Luiz’s own goal and Robin van Persie’s seventh of the season, before being pegged back via strikes from Juan Mata and Ramires.

But red cards for Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres handed the advantage back to the visitors, which allowed Javier Hernandez to fire home for all three points.

Van Persie remains clear favourite for his second consecutive Golden Boot prize and is priced at 5/2 for the honour with Stan James.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are now only one point behind Chelsea and saw their odds for the title slashed after the victory, with Betfred's 2/1 now the best offering available, while Roberto Di Matteo's men can be backed at as long as 3/1 with Ladbrokes.

In the Merseyside derby, Everton clawed back a two-goal deficit of their own to claim a 43/18 draw against Liverpool. Leighton Baines’ early own goal was added to by Luis Suarez’s fifth of the campaign, but the Toffees fought back through Leon Osman and Steven Naismith.

Elsewhere, even-money favourites Newcastle grabbed a late three points against West Brom courtesy of Papiss Cisse's last-gasp winner at St James' Park.

Champions Manchester City continued their indifferent title defence form with a narrow 1-0 win over Swansea at the Etihad Stadium. Roberto Mancini’s 1/5 favourites made hard work of all three points on home soil, grabbing victory through Carlos Tevez’s superb winner.

They continue to be chalked up as favourites to lift the Premier League trophy at the end of this season, however, and Paddy Power offers the market best of 15/8 on them retaining their champions status.

QPR and Reading are still looking for their first wins of the season. Mark Hughes, 11/10 favourite with Ladbrokes to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post, watched his side go down 1-0 to Arsenal at Emirates Stadium after Mikel Arteta’s late winner.

Reading, meanwhile, snatched a late point from their entertaining 3-3 draw with Fulham at the Madejski Stadium. The Royals twice went behind despite scoring the game’s opener in the first half but rallied to claw a share of the 23/10 spoils thanks to Hal Robson-Kanu’s last-ditch equaliser.

Brian McDermott’s men remain 4/5 relegation favourites with William Hill, while QPR can be backed at 9/4 for the drop with Bet Victor.

Wigan Athletic were also winners after a hard-earned win over West Ham United at the DW Stadium. The 31/25 Latics had not claimed victory since the second game of the season but ensured maximum points with goals from Ivan Ramis and James McArthur.

Results: Aston Villa 1-1 Norwich, Arsenal 1-0 QPR, Reading 3-3 Fulham, Stoke 0-0 Sunderland, Wigan 2-1 West Ham, Everton 2-2 Liverpool, Newcastle 2-1 West Brom, Southampton 1-2, Spurs, Chelsea 2-3 Man Utd.

Man Utd to win the Premier League at 2/1