LONDON, 28 October 2007 — Manchester United stormed to the top of the Premier League yesterday with a 4-1 thumping of Middlesbrough as Chelsea stole the limelight with a 6-0 hammering of third-placed Manchester City. Carlos Tevez scored twice for United as they notched an eighth successive league victory and four goals in a match for the fourth time in a row.

The champions could lose first place today when Arsenal travel to Liverpool looking for a 13th consecutive victory in all competitions.

Didier Drogba bagged two goals against hapless City as Chelsea more than doubled their home goals tally in 90 scintillating minutes at Stamford Bridge. Andriy Shevchenko also got in on the act after coming on as a substitute. After a poor start to the season and the traumatic parting of the ways with coach Jose Mourinho, Chelsea are now back in the top four. Fulham were denied a first away victory of the season when Kenwyne Jones scored late for 10-man Sunderland in a 1-1 draw.

Improving Reading beat Newcastle United 2-1 while Birmingham City twice came from behind to beat Wigan Athletic 3-2 at home.

Portsmouth’s Benjani Mwaruwari had a stoppage-time penalty saved in a 0-0 home draw with West Ham United.

United included midfielder Owen Hargreaves in their starting lineup for only the fourth time since he joined from Bayern Munich and they were in front after three minutes. Nani took possession in the Boro half, moved forward and ripped a 30-meter shot past Mark Schwartzer.

Old Trafford was still buzzing when Jeremie Aliadiere headed Boro level minutes later but a mistake from England midfielder Stewart Downing gifted Wayne Rooney a goal to put United back in front before halftime. A superb move between Rooney and Tevez resulted in the Argentine putting United 3-1 up after 55 minutes and Tevez struck again with a deflected shot.

Schalke Draw With Werder,

Stuttgart Win at Home

In Berlin, Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen fought out a 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga yesterday while champions VfB Stuttgart eased their recent woes by snatching a 1-0 win at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

Schalke took the lead in the day’s big game at home to Werder with a Carlos Grossmueller free kick in the 14th minute before a Naldo header brought the visitors back level 11 minutes before the break.

The result left Werder in second place with 21 points from 11 matches. Schalke climbed back up to fifth on 18 points.

Bayern Munich, the league leaders with 26 points from 10 games, are away to Borussia Dortmund today. Hamburg SV, in third place on 20, are also in action on Sunday, away to MSV Duisburg. Stuttgart, who were on a five-match losing streak in the Bundesliga and Champions League, were poor for much of the game against Leverkusen but they sneaked a goal through full back Andreas Beck in the 73rd minute and it proved just enough. Armin Veh’s side move up to 12th place with 13 points.

Aussie Star McDonald Hat Trick Hero for Celtic

In Glasgow, Australian striker Scott McDonald bagged a hat trick to hand Celtic a 3-0 victory at home to Motherwell and take them three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

The 24-year-old’s treble against his former side took his tally for the season to 11 and enabled Celtic to end a depressing week — after a 3-0 SPL defeat at Rangers and a 1-0 Champions League loss away to Benfica — on a positive note.

And the result meant they moved three points clear of second placed Rangers — ahead of their game away to Dundee United today.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan praised Motherwell for their attacking intentions but believed they may have helped his side secure the win. Although Motherwell had made a bright start, and created several chances to open the scoring, Celtic slowly gained the upperhand and fully deserved their lead in the 42nd minute.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee thought Celtic’s goal just before the break was the turning point in the game.

In the other SPL games yesterday, Inverness Caledonian Thistle thrashed bottom of the table Gretna 4-0 with a Dennis Wyness penalty and goals from Don Cowie, Barry Wilson and Roy McBain giving the visitors victory. Third placed Hibernian were surprisingly beaten 1-0 at home to St. Mirren, with Billy Mehmet scoring the only goal of the game in the 13th minute. And Kilmarnock leapfrogged Hearts with a 3-1 victory at home to the Edinburgh side — who had French player Christian Nade sent-off on 45 minutes.

Goals from Gary Wales, a Colin Nish penalty and a third from Willie Gibson secured Killie the win before the visitors scored a late consolation through Senegalese defender Ibrahim Tall.