LONDON, April 24: Manchester United needed a stunning second-half equaliser from Wayne Rooney and a rare goal from Wes Brown to beat Newcastle United 2-1 and keep the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. Though Chelsea are virtually assured of the title on 85 points, United’s victory in a repeat of last week’s FA Cup semifinal moved them on to 70, one point behind an Arsenal side who face Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby on Monday.

Arsenal are anxious to hold on to second place and qualify automatically for next season’s Champions League. They also knowing that failing to beat Spurs at Highbury will make Chelsea champions.

Sunday’s other game was a thumping 4-1 victory for Portsmouth in the south coast derby against Harry Redknapp’s bottom-placed Southampton, who remain prime candidates for relegation.

Sunday’s results:

Manchester United 2 Newcastle United 1

Portsmouth 4 Southampton 1

Played on Saturday:

Crystal Palace 1 Liverpool 0

Blackburn Rovers 0 Manchester City 0

Aston Villa 1 Bolton Wanderers 1

Chelsea 3 Fulham 1

Everton 1 Birmingham City 1

Middlesbrough 4 West Bromwich Albion 0

Norwich City 1 Charlton Athletic 0

Playing on Monday: Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (1900GMT).—Reuters