Manchester United suffered a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in the derby match that took place on Saturday in the Premiership round-22. Trevor Sinclair and Darius Vassell goals in secured the first-half for City before substitute Robbie Fowler netted the winner, while Ruud van Nistelrooy scored United's only goal. United maintained their second-place position in the Premiership standings with a tally of 43 points, while leaders Chelsea could raise the point difference to 16 points if they win Sunderland next Sunday. Sinclair gave City the lead in the 32nd minute after latching a loose ball and firing it past United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, before Vassell doubled City's lead after nipping in ahead of a deliberating Silvestre and sending the ball home with a throbbing shot. Van Nistelrooy managed to pull back a goal for United with a superbly taken individual goal after controlling a Ryan Giggs cross on his chest and shooting past David James in the 76th minute. Substitute Fowler secured City's victory deep into injury time after taking advantage of the frail United defence and firing the ball straight into the net.
Mido The match also witnessed United's Cristiano Ronaldo receive his marching orders after tackling City's Andy Cole in the 66th minute. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool thanks to a Harry Kewell effort. Kewell connected a Steve Finnan cross and volleyed the ball into the Spurs net to score his first goal since December 2004 and to seal Liverpool's number eight home victory. Liverpool's Paul Stalteri received his marching orders after fouling Kewel in the dying minutes of the match. The Reds maintained their third-place position in the league standings with a tally of 44 points, while Tottenham remain with 40 points. Elsewhere, Arsenal gave Middlesbrough a 7-0 drubbing thanks to a Thierry Henry hat-trick, while Phillipe Senderos, Robert Pires, Gilberto Silva and Alexander Hleb each scored a goal to secure their side's stunning win. Also, Birmingham suffered a 2-0 defeat to Charlton, Portsmouth lost 1-0 to Everton, Fulham defeated Newcastle 1-0, West Ham overcame Aston Villa 2-1 and Blackburn held Bolton to a goalless draw..
