LONDON, Dec 23: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Manchester United remained top of the English Premiership heading into the busy Christmas period with a 3-0 win away to Aston Villa on Saturday.

After a goalless first-half, Portugal winger Ronaldo ran 40 yards before his initial shot was blocked but scored from the rebound just before the hour mark.

In the 64th minute Paul Scholes's 30-yard volley went in off the woodwork before Ronaldo completed the scoring five minutes from time.

Second-placed champions Chelsea can close the gap to two points if they win away to Wigan in Saturday's late kick-off.

Arsenal kept their hopes of a Champions League place alive with an extraordinary come-from-behind 6-2 win over Blackburn Rovers.

The fourth-placed side were joined on 33 points by Bolton Wanderers, 2-0 winners away to Manchester City after Nicolas Anelka scored twice against his old club.

But Liverpool stayed third after a 2-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Watford.

Elsewhere high-flyers Portsmouth overturned an early deficit in a 3-1 victory over Sheffield United at Fratton Park while Newcastle beat Tottenham by the same scoreline at St James'.

Reading's progress was checked by Everton's 2-0 win at the Madejski Stadium while Middlesbrough ensured Charlton stayed in the bottom three with a 2-0 win.

That result meant West Ham, briefly out of danger following a goalless London derby draw away to Fulham in Saturday's early kick-off, ended the day back in the relegation zone having had defender Paul Konchesky sent-off in the 85th minute for a foul on Wayne Routledge.

Liverpool had to wait until the 47th minute before Craig Bellamy put them in front at Anfield following a pass from skipper Steven Gerrard. Xabi Alonso's goal two minutes from time secured Liverpool's victory.

Arsenal, just as they'd done during last weekend's 2-2 draw against Portsmouth, went behind at the Emirates Stadium but preserved their unbeaten record at their new home with three goals in 17 minutes.

Blackburn took the lead with a third minute penalty scored by Shabani Nonda after Arsenal old-boy David Bentley was fouled by Kolo Toure.

However, the Gunners levelled in the 10th minute when Brazil's Gilberto Silva headed in a Robin van Persie corner.

Arsenal then went ahead in the 23rd minute when Alexander Hleb scored from inside the box. Minutes later Emmanuel Adebayor, the provider for the second goal, made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Australia's Lucas Neill fouled van Persie.

Nonda then pulled a goal back for Rovers in the 69th minute before two late goals from van Persie wrapped up the points with Mathieu Flamini adding a sixth in the 90th minute.

At Eastlands, Anelka fired Bolton into an eighth minute lead before making it 2-0 from a similar position out on the right-hand side of the box in the 25th minute.

City midfielder Joey Barton was then given a straight red card late on for a two-footed challenge on Abdoulaye Faye.

Portsmouth went behind to striker Rob Hulse's fourth-minute header but levelled three minutes after half-time thanks to an own-goal from Rob Kozluk.

Former Arsenal and England centre-half Sol Campbell completed Pompey's comeback with a 54th minute header.

Victory was confirmed by defender Noe Pamarot's second goal in as many games, sixth-placed south coast club Pompey in the hunt for European football next season.

Newcastle went ahead through Kieron Dyer's 20-yard curling shot in the third minute before striker Obafemi Martins doubled the lead. Spurs then pulled a goal back through midfielder Danny Murphy before the Magpies restored their two-goal lead through Scott Parker.

Andy Johnson gave Everton a 14th minute lead against Reading with a shot from inside the box and shortly after the break he played in fellow striker James McFadden for the second goal.

Middlesbrough, themselves in the drop zone after West Ham's draw, pulled clear after a goal in each half from Yakubu and Julio Arca.

Results:

Arsenal 6 Blackburn Rovers 2

Aston Villa 0 Manchester United 3

Fulham 0 West Ham United 0

Liverpool 2 Watford 0

Manchester City 0 Bolton Wanderers 2

Middlesbrough 2 Charlton Athletic 0

Newcastle United 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Portsmouth 3 Sheffield United 1

Reading 0 Everton 2

—Agencies