TABLE TOPPERS

In what was arguably the most exciting match of the day, United pierced the West Ham goal three times inside the first 20 minutes.

Dwight Yorke netted first after nine minutes, heading home a pinpoint cross from David Beckham.

Just four minutes later, Ryan Giggs put the visitors two up with Yorke the provider.

Giggs was on target again on 19 minutes when he silenced the home support with a cracking drive from 25 yards.

Just as the game looked over, Italian ace Paolo Di Canio scored with the outside of his right foot to give Harry Redknapp`s boys a glimmer of hope.

Di Canio showed his undoubted brilliance on 52 minutes when he skipped through the United defence to put his side just 3-2 down.

Yorke again pounced just after the hour mark to complete the rout.

Aston Villa left it late but an Ian Taylor goal on 82 minutes gave the Midlands side all three points and thus eased the increasing pressure on manager John Gregory with a 2-1 victory.

Gilles de Bilde put the visitors in front with a contentious penalty after 20 minutes but Paul Merson equalised for Villa after 69 minutes.

However, he later missed a penalty as did Dion Dublin earlier in the game.

Wimbledon had a golden opportunity to avenge recent heavy defeats at Highbury when Carl Cort`s seventh minute goal separated the teams for 54 minutes.

The Dons had held on well but Arsenal were awarded for their intense pressure when Frenchman Thierry Henry netted after 61 minutes. The Gunners remain in fourth place in the Premiership.

Liverpool continued their impressive run of form with a 2-0 victory over Coventry at Anfield.

Michael Owen opened the scoring just before the half-time whistle and Guinea international scored another brilliant goal on 74 minutes to keep his side in the race for the title.

Middlesbrough battled hard to earn a 2-1 victory at home to Tottenham despite going behind to a seventh minute goal from Ramon Vega.

Christian Ziege put the home side back in the race after 34 minutes and Brian Deane couldn`t have picked a better time to score his 150th league goal after 67 minutes to give Bryan Robson`s side all three points.

Bradford stunned Bobby Robson`s improving, but injury hit, Newcastle side with a 2-0 victory at Valley Parade.

The goals came from Dean Saunders after 56 minutes and David Wetherall on 71 minutes.

A brace of goals from Kevin Phillips was enough to earn Sunderland a 2-0 home victory over Southampton though the England international also missed a penalty.

Phillips` strikes after 30 and 87 minutes moved his season`s goal tally to 19.

Derby eased their relegation worries with a 1-0 victory over Leicester in the East Midlands derby at Filbert Street thanks to a 69 minute effort from Rams` midfielder Darryl Powell.

And Everton helped get their season back on track with a 3-1 win at Watford.

Nick Barmby opened the scoring for the Toffees after just four minutes and Don Hutchison made it two on 37 minutes.

Michel Ngonge gave Graham Taylor`s side hope after an hour but an 86th minute penalty from David Unsworth killed off the Hornets.

Jonny Wootton