MANCHESTER: Liverpool and Arsenal capitalized on a rare slip-up by Premier League leader Chelsea by claiming away wins at their fiercest rivals on Sunday to close up an intriguing four-team race for the title.

Liverpool humiliated soon-to-be-deposed champion Manchester United in a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, with Steven Gerrard converting two penalties and Luis Suarez also scoring in a one-sided match that highlighted the gulf that has emerged between the two foes.

United striker Wayne Rooney said “it’s a nightmare,” adding that “it’s one of the worst days I’ve ever had in football.” Tomas Rosicky’s goal after 72 seconds sealed Arsenal’s battling 1-0 win at Tottenham.

Arsenal and Liverpool are four points behind Chelsea, and both have a game in hand.

Earlier, two Steven Gerrard penalties helped Liverpool embarrass bitter rivals Manchester United to leave them breathing down the necks of leaders Chelsea.

Gerrard’s strikes either side of halftime put the visitors in control and Luis Suarez sealed only Liverpool’s second win at Old Trafford in nearly 10 years with a well-taken third.

Skipper Gerrard could have completed a first ever hat trick of spot kicks in the Premier League but struck the foot of the post after Nemanja Vidic was red-carded for tripping Daniel Sturridge shortly before Suarez completed the rout.

With nine matches remaining to Chelsea’s eight, Liverpool’s run of five consecutive league wins has left them four points behind Jose Mourinho’s side who were beaten 1-0 at Aston Villa on Saturday having had two men sent off.

Vidic, who is joining Inter Milan at the end of the season, now has four red cards against Liverpool in his United career, more than any other player against one opponent in the history of the Premier League.

United’s ninth defeat of the season, a new record for the club in the Premier League, left them languishing in seventh place with 48 points, 11 adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal who are in action later on Sunday at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Messi breaks another record

In Madrid, Lionel Messi scored a hat trick to become Barcelona’s all-time record goalscorer as they cut the gap on La Liga leaders Real Madrid to four points ahead of their meeting next weekend with a 7-0 thrashing of Osasuna.

After a slow start, the hosts were sparked into life by Messi’s opening goal as he flicked home at the near post from Alexis Sanchez’s cross.

Sanchez was next on the scoresheet as he finished off a similar move involving Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba before Iniesta’s wonderful strike from 25 yards made it 3-0.

Messi then broke another record by registering his 370th Barca goal to overtake Paulinho Alcantara as the club’s record marksman before rounding off his hat trick in between further strikes from Cristian Tello and Pedro Rodriguez.

Barca boss Gerardo Martino had left Cesc Fabregas and Neymar on the bench after their exertions in the 2-1 win over Manchester City in midweek with Sanchez and Pedro recalled to the starting line-up.