Chelsea opened a six-point lead in the Premier League on Sunday following a 1-1 draw with Southampton as Manchester United enjoyed perhaps their finest performance yet under Louis van Gaal with a 3-0 trouncing of Tottenham Hotspur.
EPL PHOTOS: Chelsea take six point-lead despite Southampton draw
Yet United, so often criticised for being slow and directionless under Dutchman Van Gaal, produced the most electric performance of the day, crushing Spurs with first-half goals from Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney.
A national newspaper ran a bizarre story on Sunday about Rooney being filmed getting knocked out by his friend, Stoke City player Phil Bardsley, in a boxing bout in Rooney's kitchen.
Rooney's amused response after his goal was to celebrate by throwing a few shadow punches before falling theatrically on to his back amid delighted cheers from the United faithful.
Sublime United
United, reeling from Monday's FA Cup defeat by Arsenal, produced a performance Old Trafford had been longing for as they blew fellow top-four chasers Spurs away with the pace and precision so often missing during Van Gaal's unloved reign.
Fellaini, released by Carrick's through ball, put them ahead after nine minutes with a sweet left-foot strike, before Carrick headed home from distance 10 minutes later after the excellent Fellaini had wrought more aerial havoc.
Rooney's bustling run and cool finish after 34 minutes provided the knockout blow in what the captain felt was United's best first half performance in the Van Gaal era.
The Dutchman, who reckoned his players' commitment in training since the Arsenal loss persuaded him they would produce a fine response, said: "Maybe, besides the first five minutes, we had control of the match, didn't give much away and scored beautiful goals."
Everton beat10-man Newcastle
In Sunday's other game, Everton eased pressure on manager Roberto Martinez with their first home league success in three months with a 3-0 win over 10-man Newcastle United, with goals from James McCarthy, a Romelu Lukaku penalty and Ross Barkley.
Newcastle had Fabricio Coloccini sent off just before the hour for a foul on Aaron Lennon.
Chelsea increased their advantage over Manchester City despite Diego Costa's 11th minute close-range header being answered eight minutes later by Dusan Tadic's fortuitous penalty in an absorbing encounter at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea, on 64 points, still have a game in hand on Manchester City, who were beaten at Burnley on Saturday.
United, with 56 points, have climbed within a point of Arsenal and two of their cross-city rivals City as well as moving five points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool.
Their win also seriously dents the Champions League qualifying hopes of Spurs who, on 50 points, are now behind sixth-placed Southampton on goal difference and struggling to keep alive their hopes of a top-four finish.
