Premier League: Result
Ronaldo the United hero
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal of the game as Manchester United secured their fifth successive Premier League victory.
The champions were again far from their best but took advantage of Birmingham's attacking profligacy and defensive generosity to claim another three-point haul.
Steve Bruce's side missed several good chances and were made to pay when Franck Queudrue foolishly allowed a long ball into the box to bounce with Ronaldo lurking.
The Portugal international needed no second invitation and stole in ahead of Queudrue before cutting across Liam Ridgewell, rounding Maik Taylor and rolling home in the 51st minute.
Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to replace goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at the interval after he suffered a toe injury, with replacement Tomasz Kuszczak producing a stunning point-blank reaction save after Rio Ferdinand had deflected Gary McSheffrey's driven shot.
The champions were again far from their best but took advantage of Birmingham's attacking profligacy and defensive generosity to claim another three-point haul.
Steve Bruce's side missed several good chances and were made to pay when Franck Queudrue foolishly allowed a long ball into the box to bounce with Ronaldo lurking.
The Portugal international needed no second invitation and stole in ahead of Queudrue before cutting across Liam Ridgewell, rounding Maik Taylor and rolling home in the 51st minute.
Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to replace goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at the interval after he suffered a toe injury, with replacement Tomasz Kuszczak producing a stunning point-blank reaction save after Rio Ferdinand had deflected Gary McSheffrey's driven shot.
Results:
Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
Birmingham 0-1 Man Utd
Portsmouth 7-4 Reading
Man City 3-1 Newcastle
Wigan 0-1 Liverpool
Derby 1-1 Bolton
Sunderland 1-2 Blackburn
Celtic 3-0 Dundee United
West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
Birmingham 0-1 Man Utd
Portsmouth 7-4 Reading
Man City 3-1 Newcastle
Wigan 0-1 Liverpool
Derby 1-1 Bolton
Sunderland 1-2 Blackburn
Celtic 3-0 Dundee United
La Liga: Henry with "The First hattrick at Barcelona"...
Levante 1-4
BarcelonaThierry Henry grabbed a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed bottom-of-the-table Levante on Saturday.
The former Arsenal striker netted after 17, 24 and 48 minutes to end his Primera Liga goal drought and set Barcelona on the road to a comprehensive victory which sees them move provisionally top of the Primera Liga.
Lionel Messi added a fourth goal for the Catalans and Emilio Viqueira scored a late penalty for the home side.
Frank Rijkaard's side created their first chance after 12 minutes.
Gabriel Milito headed Deco's long ball into the path of Messi, but the Argentina winger arrived just too late and was unable to make contact.
Deco then fired a free-kick over the bar from long range after 15 minutes as Barcelona began to dominate.
Two minutes later, they were ahead.
Levante goalkeeper Marco Storari could only clear Deco's cross as far as Xavi, who quickly found Messi.
Storari parried the Argentinian's shot, but Henry was at hand to fire home the rebound and score his first Primera Liga goal since arriving from Arsenal in the summer.
Seven minutes later, Henry scored again.
This time, Messi charged forward and squared for the unmarked Frenchman, who tapped home from close range to double Barcelona's lead.
The duo combined well again just before half-time, but Messi saw his effort drift just wide on this occasion following Henry's exquisite pass.
The start of the second period saw the return of Barca captain Carles Puyol, who ended three frustrating months of inactivity when he replaced the injured Milito.
But it was all about Henry and the Frenchman completed his hat-trick just three minutes after the restart.
The 29-year-old striker was left in acres of space by the Levante back line and coolly slotted home after good work from Deco on the right hand side.
Two minutes later, Rijkaard's team went four up after a fine Messi solo effort.
The Argentinian jinked past his marker and into the area after 51 minutes, before slotting home a low angled drive to leave Levante well-beaten and bag his sixth goal in four games.
It was to be the winger's last contribution to the match, after he was replaced - to a standing ovation from the visiting support - by young Mexico forward Giovani Dos Santos a minute later.
Dos Santos had the ball in the net after 68 minutes, but the Mexican was deemed to be in an offside position and his strike did not count.
Barcelona continued to dominate, but Levante pulled a goal back five minutes later from the penalty spot after Puyol had brought down Alex Geijo.
Viqueira stepped up and fired past Valdes to reduce the deficit, but it was nothing more than a consolation for Levante, who remain rooted to the bottom of the Primera Liga.
Barcelona, meanwhile, inspired by a brilliant and long-overdue performance from Henry, go top and continue to shine.
Levante 1-4 Barcelona
Real Zaragoza 2-0 Sevilla
The former Arsenal striker netted after 17, 24 and 48 minutes to end his Primera Liga goal drought and set Barcelona on the road to a comprehensive victory which sees them move provisionally top of the Primera Liga.
Lionel Messi added a fourth goal for the Catalans and Emilio Viqueira scored a late penalty for the home side.
Frank Rijkaard's side created their first chance after 12 minutes.
Gabriel Milito headed Deco's long ball into the path of Messi, but the Argentina winger arrived just too late and was unable to make contact.
Deco then fired a free-kick over the bar from long range after 15 minutes as Barcelona began to dominate.
Two minutes later, they were ahead.
Levante goalkeeper Marco Storari could only clear Deco's cross as far as Xavi, who quickly found Messi.
Storari parried the Argentinian's shot, but Henry was at hand to fire home the rebound and score his first Primera Liga goal since arriving from Arsenal in the summer.
Seven minutes later, Henry scored again.
This time, Messi charged forward and squared for the unmarked Frenchman, who tapped home from close range to double Barcelona's lead.
The duo combined well again just before half-time, but Messi saw his effort drift just wide on this occasion following Henry's exquisite pass.
The start of the second period saw the return of Barca captain Carles Puyol, who ended three frustrating months of inactivity when he replaced the injured Milito.
But it was all about Henry and the Frenchman completed his hat-trick just three minutes after the restart.
The 29-year-old striker was left in acres of space by the Levante back line and coolly slotted home after good work from Deco on the right hand side.
Two minutes later, Rijkaard's team went four up after a fine Messi solo effort.
The Argentinian jinked past his marker and into the area after 51 minutes, before slotting home a low angled drive to leave Levante well-beaten and bag his sixth goal in four games.
It was to be the winger's last contribution to the match, after he was replaced - to a standing ovation from the visiting support - by young Mexico forward Giovani Dos Santos a minute later.
Dos Santos had the ball in the net after 68 minutes, but the Mexican was deemed to be in an offside position and his strike did not count.
Barcelona continued to dominate, but Levante pulled a goal back five minutes later from the penalty spot after Puyol had brought down Alex Geijo.
Viqueira stepped up and fired past Valdes to reduce the deficit, but it was nothing more than a consolation for Levante, who remain rooted to the bottom of the Primera Liga.
Barcelona, meanwhile, inspired by a brilliant and long-overdue performance from Henry, go top and continue to shine.
Levante 1-4 Barcelona
Real Zaragoza 2-0 Sevilla
Serie A round-up
Internazionale have moved clear of the top of the Serie A table with a thumping 4-1 win over Roma, while Fiorentina are now second.
The sides began the day unbeaten and level on 11 points, however, Inter put 10-man Roma to the sword at Stadio Olimpico.
Roma were always up against after Ludovic Giuly's deliberate handball resulted in a red card with Zlatan Ibrahimovic slotting home the resulting penalty.
Despite the man disadvantage Simone Perrotta levelled matters, although is was a brief respite for the home side.
Hernan Crespo restored Inter's lead with further efforts from Julio Cruz and Ivan Cordoba rounding off a fine success.
Fiorentina are now second behind Inter after a 3-0 success over 10-man Livorno in a fiery encounter.
Pablo Osvaldo opened the scoring with Massimo Loviso seeing red shortly after the hour mark.
Osvaldo added his second minutes later with Mario Santana's strike ending any hopes of a Livorno comeback.
The sides began the day unbeaten and level on 11 points, however, Inter put 10-man Roma to the sword at Stadio Olimpico.
Roma were always up against after Ludovic Giuly's deliberate handball resulted in a red card with Zlatan Ibrahimovic slotting home the resulting penalty.
Despite the man disadvantage Simone Perrotta levelled matters, although is was a brief respite for the home side.
Hernan Crespo restored Inter's lead with further efforts from Julio Cruz and Ivan Cordoba rounding off a fine success.
Fiorentina are now second behind Inter after a 3-0 success over 10-man Livorno in a fiery encounter.
Pablo Osvaldo opened the scoring with Massimo Loviso seeing red shortly after the hour mark.
Osvaldo added his second minutes later with Mario Santana's strike ending any hopes of a Livorno comeback.
(Sky Sprot)
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