Title race split wide open

Arsenal threw open the English title race Sunday with a 1-0 win over Manchester United that left the Premier League leader vulnerable to a late charge by defending champion Chelsea.

Arsenal threw open the English title race Sunday with a 1-0 win over Manchester United that left the Premier League leader vulnerable to a late charge by defending champion Chelsea. Aaron Ramsey scored in the 56th minute at Emirates Stadium to cap a dominant display by Arsenal and cut Uniteds lead over the Blues to three points with three games remaining.

With third-place Arsenal still six points off the lead,the Gunners victory may have come too late to re-ignite its title hopes. But after beating Tottenham 2-1 on Saturday,Chelseas goal difference is now identical to Uniteds,giving the defending champion the chance to go top if it beats United at Old Trafford next Sunday.

It gives Chelsea a major chance now, United manager Alex Ferguson said. But in terms of ability a game at Old Trafford the supporters will be ready for it and so will our players.

Also Sunday,Liverpool moved ahead of Spurs on goal difference into fifth place with an untroubled 3-0 win over Newcastle.

Although Spurs have played one game fewer,their chances of reaching the top four to make the Champions League for a second straight season appear to be over. Liverpool is extremely unlikely to catch fourth-place Manchester City but now has a good chance to finish in fifth place,two spots higher than last season.

United were unbeaten in seven meetings with Arsenal but the closest it came to scoring at Emirates Stadium was when Wayne Rooney curled a 49th-minute free kick toward the top corner. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved and Patrice Evra put the rebound into the side netting.

Szczesny also blocked a near-post shot from Nani following a 77th-minute counterattack and Arsenal,which drew its previous three home matches and lost 2-1 at Bolton last weekend,held firm with the youngest team fielded by any club in this seasons Premier League.

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Ramseys inclusion in place of captain Cesc Fabregas,who was kicked on the thigh in training Friday,meant that the average age of Arsenals starting lineup was 23 years,296 days.

But it crucially meant that,with Jack Wilshere and Alex Song also playing,the Gunners midfield was more muscular. With United stalwart Ryan Giggs missing because of flu,Arsenal dominated possession taking 80 per cent in the first 15 minutes and 57 percent overall.

I didnt think we started playing until we lost a goal to be honest, Ferguson said. It was a very low-key performance up until then.

Van Persie set up Ramseys first Premier League goal of the season and first since December 2009 after he was released down the right by Theo Walcott. He rolled a pass to the unmarked midfielder,who placed a first-time shot from 15 yards across goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and in at the far post.

Dalglishs run continues

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At Anfield,Maxi Rodriguez put Liverpool ahead with a deflected shot in the 10th before Dirk Kuyt hit his eighth goal in seven Premier League matches with a penalty after Luis Suarez was wrestled to the ground by defender Mike Williamson. Suarezs 65th-minute finish made the game safe.

Also Sunday,Wolves drew 1-1 at local rival Birmingham and Manchester City beat West Ham 2-1.