United on top, Henry clinches Arsenal winner

Manchester United returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday.

Manchester United returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday.

However, the match at Old Trafford was overshadowed by Luis Suarez’s refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra, the player whom he was found guilty of racially abusing in October which led to an eight-match ban.

Wayne Rooney scored twice early in the second half and although Suarez pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining United held on to move ahead of Manchester City, who play on Sunday.

Chelsea lost their grip on fourth place after a 2-0 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park.

Toffees midfielder Steven Pienaar, who returned on loan last month, did parent club Spurs a favour by scoring in the fifth minute before fellow on-loan player Denis Stracqualursi hit his first EPL goal in the 71st minute to wrap up the points and extend Chelsea’s poor run to just 12 points out of the last 30 available.

Arsenal took advantage to move into the final Champions League qualification spot as they came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1.

Having gone behind to James McLean’s 71st-minute goal, Aaron Ramsey equalised with a shot off both posts just four minutes later. And Thierry Henry’s last-minute goal, converting Andrey Arshavin’s cross, nicked the three points and took them above Chelsea on goals scored.

At the other end of the table Wigan did their survival chances the world of good with a 2-1 derby win over fellow strugglers Bolton.

Fellow strugglers Blackburn held off a late rally from QPR to win 3-2 but the concession of those goals prevented them moving out of the bottom three.

Striker Ayegbeni Yakubu, returning from a three-match ban, scored his 14th goal of the season, midfielder Steven Nzonzi drove home his first since August 2010 and Nedum Onuoha’s own goal put Rovers 3-0 up at the break.

Jamie Mackie scored twice in the last 19 minutes, the second a brilliant strike in injury time, but they could not force a draw.