Rampant Ronaldo puts United top

LONDON, England -- Manchester United returned to the top of the English Premier League after thrashing crisis club Newcastle 6-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Visiting Newcastle, who had former United striker Alan Smith sent off at the end, were left reeling on a day which started with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp deciding not to take up the north-east club's offer to replace the sacked Sam Allardyce.

United went top on goal difference after previous leaders Arsenal were surprisingly held 1-1 at home by Birmingham earlier on Saturday, having taken the lead in the first half through a penalty by Emmanuel Adebayor.

United, who scored all six goals in the second half, romped to victory thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's first hat-trick for the club.

The Portugal winger began the rout with a low 49th-minute free-kick, which Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given got a hand to but could not stop.

Carlos Tevez netted the second on 55 when Ryan Giggs set him up after a calamitous sequence of Newcastle passes which ended with Given blasting his clearance straight at Cacapa.

Wayne Rooney and Tevez combined to set up Ronaldo's second after 70 minutes, while Jose Enrique cleared Michael Carrick's fierce drive off the line.

Defender Rio Ferdinand volleyed home a first-time effort from Rooney's chipped pass on 85 and Ronaldo completed his treble three minutes later, then Argentina forward Tevez headed his second -- a controversial effort which may not have crossed the line.

Smith, who had already been booked, led the Newcastle protests and it was no surprise when he was given his marching orders for the second time this season.

United boss Alex Ferguson revealed he had given his side a wake-up call at half-time.

"I thought there were too many individuals in the first half trying to walk the ball into the net," he said. "I stressed that passing was the key element. Once we increased the tempo of the passing and movement, they were a fantastic team in the second half. The quick goals settled everyone and after that we played some great football."

Arsenal have not lost at home for more than 20 matches, but almost went behind after 15 minutes when Cameron Jerome's low shot brought a fine save from goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

At the other end, Maik Taylor superbly blocked a point-blank header from the in-form Eduardo, who won a penalty in the 21st minute after tangling with Stephen Kelly -- who appeared to also make contact with the ball.

Strike partner Adebayor coolly slotted his 13th goal this season, then Birmingham had a penalty appeal turned down after Olivier Kapo went down under a challenge from Philippe Senderos.

But City leveled three minutes after the half-time break through striker Garry O'Connor, whose header from former Arsenal midfielder Sebastian Larsson's corner deflected off Cesc Fabregas past Almunia.

Arsenal winger Alexander Hleb and Blues defender Liam Ridgewell were booked for a skirmish, and the home side started to take control as they sought a winner.

Substitute striker Nicklas Bendtner, - who had a successful loan spell at Birmingham last season, dragged a shot wide and Taylor did well to keep out a low striker by midfielder Mathieu Flamini.

"We've dropped two points that we shouldn't have," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "I feel we were caught by the idea that it would be easy and lost our focus."

Third-placed Chelsea moved to within four points of Arsenal after beating London rivals Tottenham 2-0 at home.

Defender Juliano Belletti smashed the opener from 30 yards in the 19th minute, having gathered the ball inside his own half before giving keeper Radek Cerny -- again starting in place of England international Paul Robinson -- no chance with a superb strike.

Michael Ballack had a goal ruled out for offside just before half-time, then new $30 million signing Nicolas Anelka came off the bench nine minutes after the interval.

The France forward's half-volley was well-saved by Cerny after nice work by Shaun Wright-Phillips, who sealed Chelsea's victory with 10 minutes to play after being set up by Joe Cole.

Anelka hit the crossbar after a mistake by defender Michael Dawson at the end, as Avram Grant's team made it 74 games unbeaten at home in the league.

Fourth-placed Liverpool missed a chance to make ground on the leaders after being held 1-1 away to Middlesbrough, needing yet another slice of magic from top scorer Fernando Torres to rescue a point.

The home side, who moved four points clear of the relegation zone, took the lead in the 26th minute through skipper George Boateng's first goal this season.

The Dutch midfielder slid the ball home after Tuncay nodded it down following Gary O'Neil's header back across the box from Tottenham target Stewart Downing's cross.

England winger Downing hit the post in the 67th minute and O'Neil lifted the rebound over the bar, and the Reds' record signing Torres made Boro pay soon after.

The Spain striker picked up the ball in midfield and fired a venomous shot past Mark Schwarzer from 25 yards to level with his 17th goal this season in the 71st minute.

Boro's Australian keeper denied Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia late on as Liverpool sought a vital victory.

Everton joined their Merseyside rivals and Manchester City on 39 points with a 1-0 victory at home to Sven Goran Eriksson's visiting side.

City, who had not won a league game at Goodison Park for 16 years, were beaten by a first-half goal from England defender Joleon Lescott, who stabbed home from close range in the 31st minute as he met Mikel Arteta's low cross at the near post.

The match marked 10 years as a manager for Everton boss David Moyes, who has never been sacked in that time, and he was able to celebrate as his side moved up to fifth.

Aston Villa knocked City out of the top six, making it four clubs on 39 points with a 3-1 victory at home to Reading.

Striker John Carew headed the opener on 23 minutes after a free-kick by Ashley Young, whose corner was turned home by defender Martin Laursen 10 minutes after half-time.

Norway international Carew turned home a low cross from Gabriel Agbonlahor on 88 before James Harper snatched an injury-time consolation for Reading, who have yet to win away from home this season.

Wigan moved three points clear of the bottom three with the club's first away victory this season, 1-0 at bottom side Derby.

Substitute Antoine Sibierski scored his first goal in five months just 43 seconds after coming on in the 82nd minute, while the home side having been reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute as center-back Claude Davis was sent off for two yellow cards -- both coming for fouls on striker Marcus Bent.

West Ham consolidated a mid-table position with a 2-1 win at home to second-bottom London rivals Fulham.

Simon Davies had given Roy Hodgson's visitors hope of a first away success this campaign when his eighth-minute free-kick evaded everyone in the West Ham box and crept inside the far post.

But Dean Ashton headed the Hammers level on 28 from Freddie Ljungberg's cross before being twice superbly denied by Antti Niemi, but the Finland keeper was helpless to prevent defender Anton Ferdinand's first-time shot in the 69th minute.

In Sunday's matches, third from bottom Sunderland host Portsmouth and Blackburn travel to Bolton for a Lancashire derby. E-mail to a friend

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