England round-up: Unhappy return for Schmeichel

Aston Villa FC Peter Schmeichel had an unhappy return to Old Trafford stadium as his new club lost 1-0 to his old side Manchester United FC on Saturday.

Unrelenting pursuit
Ruud van Nistelrooij netted his 28th competitive goal of the season as United continued their unrelenting pursuit of the FA Premiership title with a narrow victory.

Boateng error
The Dutchman fired home the only goal of the game after 50 minutes to make it 12 wins out of 13 Premiership games for the league leaders. The match desperately needed a goal and George Boateng obliged when he was dispossessed as he dribbled the ball back towards his own box. Roy Keane and Ole Gunnar Solskjær got a touch before the ball broke off a defender to Van Nistelrooij, who steered it home.

Liverpool held
There was more to celebrate for United when challengers Liverpool FC could only draw their Merseyside derby at home to struggling Everton FC. Tomasz Radzinski returned from a long-term injury to give Everton a surprise lead seven minutes into the second half  but Nicolas Anelka popped up with his first Premiership goal for Liverpool to make it 1-1 in the 72nd minute.

French flair
Two goals from Thierry Henry helped Arsenal FC move up to second and stay within three points of the top thanks to a 4-1 win over fellow Londoners Fulham FC at Highbury. Lauren gave the hosts a fifth-minute lead only for Frenchman Steve Marlet to level for Fulham five minutes later. Five minutes after that, the hosts were back in front courtesy of Patrick Vieira and on 38 minutes more Gallic flair, this time from Henry, made it three. Henry was back on the mark just before the hour mark with the final goal of the game.

Stalemate in Southampton
Southampton FC goalkeeper Paul Jones was in fine form in his side's 0-0 stalemate at home to relegation candidates Bolton Wanderers FC. Rory Delap was sent off late in the match for the hosts, but his departure made little difference.

Leicester in trouble
Derby County FC got the better of the other relegation clash against bottom-of-the-pile Leicester City FC at Filbert Street, despite having goalkeeper Andy Oakes carried off in the first half. Georgi Kinkladze was the man who put Derby on their way to a win in the 53rd minute, and Branko Strupar made sure of three precious points by adding a second goal just after the hour. Lee Morris made it 3-0 to the visitors just before the final whistle.

West Ham win
West Ham United FC put Middlesbrough FC back on the fringes of the relegation picture thanks to a 76th-minute winner from Frédéric Kanouté at Upton Park where the visitors' defender Ugo Ehiogu was sent off for a second yellow card in the dying moments.