LONDON: Champions Manchester United went top of the Premier League for the first time since October after a four-goal blitz by Wayne Rooney earned a 4-0 home victory over Hull City on Saturday.
United has 50 points from 23 games. Arsenal have 48 from 22 matches while Chelsea are also on 48 having played two games fewer than United.
Meanwhile, Chelsea has continued its FA Cup defense with a 2-0 victory over second-tier Preston, while Everton’s hopes of a second successive final were ended by Birmingham’s 2-1 fourth-round win. Premier League struggler Burnley lost 1-0 to second-tier Reading, but Wolves and Wigan avoided defeats to lower league opposition by scoring late equalizers.
Wigan drew 2-2 at fourth-tier Notts County and Wolves was held by the same scoreline by Crystal Palace.
But four other top flights clubs booked their places in the fifth round. Portsmouth put aside protests against the club’s owners by defeating Sunderland 2-1, League Cup finalist Aston Villa edged Brighton 3-2, Bolton beat Sheffield United 2-0 and Fulham won 3-1 at Accrington.
In the day’s only Premier League match, Manchester United went top after Wayne Rooney’s four goals clinched a 4-0 win over Hull.
