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SPORTSTICKER ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE SOCCER REPORT
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*Nine is divine for United at top*
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MANCHESTER, England (Ticker) -- Manchester United moved nine 
points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premiership
with a 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage thanks to a late
winner from Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Brian McBride fired the hosts in front with his 12th goal of 
the campaign following a penalty-box mix-up between Edwin van 
der Sar and Nemanja Vidic. 

Fulham were outstanding in the opening stages but stand-in Red 
Devils skipper Giggs pulled the visitors level when he met Wayne
Rooney's far-post cross with a mishit volley, which flew into
the bottom corner. 

But Ronaldo, as so often this season, proved United's savior in 
the 88th minute, running from his own half and drilling a shot 
past Cottagers goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka with the aid of a 
deflection off Philippe Christanval. 

Third-placed Liverpool were too good for Sheffield United as 
they followed up their Champions League heroics in Barcelona 
with a 4-0 win at Anfield. 

The Reds took the lead from the spot in the 20th minute after 
Blades defender Rob Kozluk was penalized for fouling Steven 
Gerrard as the pair jostled for position at a corner.  Robbie 
Fowler converted it and had another to take five minutes later 
when Gerrard was again fouled in referee Steve Bennett's
opinion, this time by Nick Montgomery. 

Fowler's brace constituted his first Premiership goals since 
scoring a penalty against the Blades on the opening day of the 
season in August.  

Liverpool added a third with 20 minutes remaining as center 
back Sami Hyypia prodded a shot past Paddy Kenny following a
Jermaine Pennant corner and Gerrard added an excellent fourth,
firing across Kenny after bringing a superb Fowler pass under
his spell. 

Alan Curbishley made an unhappy return to The Valley with his 
new club West Ham as Charlton claimed three points and a huge 
psychological advantage in the fight to stay in the Premiership 
with a 4-0 win. 

The hosts seized the advantage in the 24th minute when Marcus 
Bent crossed from the right and Darren Ambrose connected with 
a cushioned left-foot volley that was too good for Hammers 
goalkeeper Robert Green. 

Jerome Thomas added a second 10 minutes later when he took on 
Calum Davenport and fired a low left-foot shot across Green and 
into the far corner. 

The Hammers' embarrassment increased when Paul Konchesky was 
dispossessed by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who released Darren 
Bent to tuck in Charlton's third. 

The humiliation was completed by Thomas with 10 minutes to go, 
as the former Arsenal player sidefooted home from Ambrose's low 
cross from the right.  The win moved the Addicks three points 
above West Ham.  

Middlesbrough clipped high-flying Reading's wings as they
claimed a 2-1 win at the Riverside. 

Boro forged ahead after six minutes when Emanuel Pogatetz nodded 
down a free-kick into the box and Mark Viduka's improvised 
back-heel from close range beat goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann. 
Their second arrived midway through the second half when Viduka 
passed to Ayegbeni Yakubu and the Nigerian turned and rifled in 
an unstoppable shot. 

John Oster's well-placed shot from Glen Little's cross halved the
deficit, but Gareth Southgate's men claimed the three points.