Wes opens the floodgates for United

Manchester United, sent on their way by a rare goal from unsettled defender Wes Brown...

Manchester United, sent on their way by a rare goal from unsettled defender Wes Brown, beat 10-man Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday to stay firmly in charge in the Premier League with 73 points.

After the dismissal late in the first half of Liverpool8217;s Javier Mascherano for dissent, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani added late goals as United extended their streak over fierce rivals Liverpool to seven wins in their last eight meetings.

Later, Chelsea kept alive their hopes of winning the Premier League title at the same time as severely denting Arsenal8217;s when late goals from Didier Drogba gave them a 2-1 come-from-behind win at Stamford Bridge. Drogba scored after 73 and 82 minutes to give Chelsea victory after Bacary Sagna had put Arsenal ahead in the 59th minute with a near-post header from a Cesc Fabregas corner.

The victory lifted Chelsea into second place on 68 points from 31 matches, as Arsenal, now without a win in five league games, slipped to third on 67 points. The loss left Liverpool on 59 points and out of contention.

Brown, who had previously scored only two goals in 10 years for his hometown club, headed in a Wayne Rooney cross 11 minutes before halftime.

Ten minutes later, Liverpool were reduced to 10 men when midfielder Mascherano, who had been booked early on for a late tackle, was given a second yellow card by referee Steve Bennett.

Furious response

The decision prompted a furious response from the Argentina international who had to be dragged away from the official by several of his team mates.

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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was also incensed by the decision after Mascherano responded to a booking for Fernando Torres, who could have been sent off himself in the second half as he allowed his frustration to show.

The incident summed up an unhappy afternoon for Liverpool, who have not beaten United since April 2004 and have now failed to score in their last seven league games against Ferguson8217;s side.

Only a superb performance from Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who was nevertheless at fault with Brown8217;s goal, spared Liverpool from total humiliation. The Spain international single-handedly kept United out until the closing stages.

Ronaldo hit a post and the breakthrough finally came when Brown, who may leave United in the close season after rejecting a new contract offer, stayed up with the attack to beat Reina to Rooney8217;s cross to head home.