Prem: Blues Thrashed, United Relegate Villa
Manchester United relegated Aston Villa with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford as Marcus Rashford found the scoresheet once more.
Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa FT
Rashford grabbed his seventh goal in 12 games in all competitions as he clinically netted from Antonio Valencia's cross in the 32nd minute.
The match also saw Wayne Rooney make his first start since Feb. 13, the striker lasting 66 minutes for Louis van Gaal's side.
United's victory sees them climb to within a point of Manchester City, who play at Chelsea on Saturday evening.
Manchester City moved ahead of Arsenal into third position in the table after a 3-0 win over 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Sergio Aguero hammered a 33rd minute strike, which got a deflection off the foot of Gary Cahill, to open the scoring, before finishing off a brilliant flowing move from a tight angle after Samir Nasri's pass in the second half.
Chelsea 0-3 Manchester City FT
City broke free in the 77th minute through Fernandinho and Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois brought him down in the box to receive a red card. Aguero then stepped up to net his hat trick past substitute Asmir Begovic and put some gloss on the result.
City are now one point ahead of the Gunners, who take on Crystal Palace on Sunday.
ESPN FC's Craig Burley says that Sam Allardyce's tactics were the difference against an inexperienced Alex Neil.
Sam Allardyce's Sunderland gave their survival hopes a huge boost with a 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Norwich City at Carrow Road.
Norwich City 0-3 Sunderland FT
Sunderland went in front in the 41st minute after Andre Wisdom gave away a penalty for a foul on Fabio Borini which the Italian duly tucked away.
The visitors doubled their advantage when Borini crossed for Jermain Defoe, who stretched to slide home at the back post.
Sunderland wrapped up the victory in injury time with Duncan Watmore squeezing the ball in from a tight angle.
The result sees the 18th-placed Black Cats move within a point of 17th-placed Norwich and boasting a game in hand.
Newcastle United secured a much-needed win over Swansea, with Moussa Sissoko getting on the scoresheet.
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Rafa Benitez's relegation-threatened Newcastle United claimed a much-needed victory as they beat Swansea City 3-0 at St James' Park.
Newcastle United 3-0 Swansea City FT
Newcastle broke the deadlock four minutes before half-time when Jamaal Lascelles headed in from Andros Townsend's cross.
Moussa Sissoko doubled Newcastle's advantage when he reacted quickest to a loose ball in the 82nd minute.
Townsend wrapped up the points and Benitez's first success as manager late on, pulling the 19th-placed Magpies within three points of Norwich with a game in hand.
Everton are now six league matches without a win after letting slip a lead against Southampton as the match at Goodison Park ended 1-1.
Everton 1-1 Southampton FT
Ramiro Funes Mori gave Everton the lead on 68 minutes when he lashed home from the edge of the area.
Southampton hit back through Sadio Mane as he pounced on a loose ball to make it 1-1.
Heurelho Gomes breaks down his two penalty saves against Saido Berahino in Watford's 1-0 win over West Brom.
West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino saw two penalties saved as his side lost 1-0 against Watford at The Hawthorns.
West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Watford FT
Watford went in front on 27 minutes when Ben Watson volleyed in Adlene Guedioura's low corner at the near post.
Berahino missed a golden opportunity to pull West Brom level when he saw a second-half penalty saved by goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
With three minutes left of normal time Berahino had another opportunity from the penalty spot, but the forward was once again denied by Gomes.
-espnfc