October 29, 2006	Sunday	Shawwal 5, 1427

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LONDON, Oct 28: Wayne Rooney ended his barren spell in front of goal with a hat-trick as Manchester United stayed top of the Premiership with a 4-0 win away to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

The England striker had gone 10 games without scoring but that run ended in the 10th minute at the Reebok Stadium when he shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

And six minutes later Rooney, 21 earlier this week, doubled United's lead over their third-placed opponents with a brilliant curling shot.

Cristiano Ronaldo shot into an empty net eight minutes from time before Rooney completed his treble two minutes from time.

Reigning champions Chelsea remained level on points with the leaders after a 2-0 win away to Sheffield United while Liverpool ended Aston Villa's unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 victory at Anfield.

Elsewhere, Arsenal came from behind in a 1-1 draw with Everton and high-flyers Portsmouth, who'd lost four of their last five matches, beat Premiership new boys Reading 3-1 at Fratton Park.

Newly-promoted Watford, the only team yet to win in the Premiership this season, were held to a goalless draw at home to Tottenham as Wigan's 1-0 win against Fulham gave the Latics their first away victory since March.

Newcastle face bottom-of-the-table Charlton at St James' Park in Saturday's late kick-off match with second-bottom West Ham at home Sunday to Blackburn.

Struggling Manchester City face Middlesbrough in Monday's match.

At Bramall Lane, Chelsea's third-choice keeper Hilario saved Danny Webber's poorly struck penalty when the game was still scoreless after Didier Drogba was ruled to have fouled Claude Davis.

Chelsea then made the Blades pay when Frank Lampard's 30-yard free-kick deceived Paddy Kenny two minutes before half-time.

Early in the second-half England international Lampard then turned provider, his cross headed in by German midfield colleague Michael Ballack.

But that didn't stop Mourinho complaining about the Blades' penalty.

“The decision for me was completely wrong,” he told Sky Sports. “It was not easy for us but the team fought well.

Frustrated Blades' boss Neil Warnock said: “Goals change games and it really would have been nice for once to put a penalty away and put a bit of pressure on them, take the lead and see how they reacted.”Villa, a transformed team this season under new manager Martin O'Neill, this season were brought back down to earth on Merseyside.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez found himself under pressure after defeat by Manchester United last weekend appeared to end his club's title hopes.

But that didn't stop the Spaniard changing his starting line-up for the 99th consecutive match.

Benitez's men went ahead in the 31st minute through Dirk Kuyt's volley and seven minutes later former Villa striker Peter Crouch made it 2-0 when the England international turned in Steve Finnan's cross.

And there was still time for Liverpool to score another before half-time when Crouch set up Luis Garcia.

Gabriel Agbonlahor then pulled one back for Villa in the 56th minute.

Arsenal started Saturday five points behind the leaders but with a game in hand.

However, their hopes of closing the gap were dented in the 11th minute when Australia midfielder Tim Cahill got on the end of Mikel Arteta's cross.But Robin van Persie's 71st minute equaliser gave the Londoners a share of the points.

Portsmouth went ahead at Fratton Park when Pedro Mendes's 10th minute corner was headed into his own net by Reading's Brynjar Gunnarsson.

Nwankwo Kanu headed in his seventh goal of the season early in the second-half. Mendes's 66th minute volley sealed victory before the Royals grabbed a consolation goal late on through Kevin Doyle.

Watford, on the stroke of half-time, saw Ashley Young net against Spurs but the winger's effort was controversially disallowed for offside.

Henri Camara spared Wigan's blushes at Craven Cottage with an 83rd minute goal after Denny Landzaat's second-half penalty clipped the crossbar.

Results:

Arsenal 1 Everton 1

Bolton Wanderers 0 Manchester United 4

Fulham 0 Wigan Athletic 1

Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 1

Portsmouth 3 Reading 1

Sheffield United 0 Chelsea 2

Watford 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0

—Agencies