Arsenal kept their slight hopes alive with a 3-1 away win at Blackpool. The tricky encounter started well with both teams playing attacking football but it was the quality of Van Persie that was the difference as he scored a brace to leave Arsenal 7 points behind United however with a game in hand.
Chelsea also earned their 3 points with a hard fought 1-0 win at home to Wigan. Malouda was the match winner with a strike to leave Chelsea needing results to go their way and some big wins if they are to have any chance of regaining the Premiership.
In the battle to avoid the drop, WBA were the winners of the bottom half with a 3-2 win away at Sunderland. Aston Villa also picked up much needed points with a 1-0 win over Newcastle. West Ham were poor as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat at impressive Bolton and Wolves didn't show any fight as they went down also 3-0 at Everton. In other games Blackburn and Birmingham shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park and Spurs won 3-2 at home to Stoke to keep their European dreams alive.
Man Utd 69
Arsenal 62
Chelsea 58
Man City 56
Tottenham 53
Liverpool 45
Everton 44
Bolton 43
Newcastle 39
WBA 39
Fulham 38
Stoke City 38
Sunderland 38
Aston Villa 37
Blackburn 35
Birmingham 35
Blackpool 33
West Ham Utd 32
Wolves 32
Wigan Athletic 31