LONDON, Dec 2: Manchester United moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League after an extraordinary 4-3 victory at Reading on Saturday in which all seven goals arrived in the opening half.

Defensive manuals were ripped up as United trailed 1-0 and 3-2 but once again they showed their trademark resilience as two goals from Wayne Rooney, one from Anderson, and Robin van Persie’s 10th league strike of the season sealed the points, taking them to 36 from 15 games.

“It must be agonising for the coaches and the fans to watch, but we always believe in ourselves,” Rooney told ESPN. “It was a bit like a basketball match.”

Champions Manchester City needed a Carlos Tevez penalty to draw 1-1 at home to Everton — their 37th home league match without defeat — but they lost ground to their rivals in what is already looking like a two-horse title race.

Chelsea are already 10 points behind United after a 3-1 loss at West Ham left the European champions without a win in seven league matches, three since Benitez replaced the fired Roberto Di Matteo as manager.

The European champions are joined on 26 points by Tottenham Hostpur, who won 3-0 at Fulham with England striker Jermain Defoe scoring twice.

West Bromwich Albion slipped to fifth, also on 26 points, after a 1-0 defeat at home by Stoke City.

Arsenal dropped to 10th after Michu’s double gave Swansea a 2-0 victory at Emirates Stadium while Queens Park Rangers remain winless and bottom after being held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa.

On Sunday, Norwich City extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to eight games with a 2-1 home win over struggling Sunderland.

Results:Played on Sunday:Norwich City 2    Sunderland 1

Played on Saturday:Arsenal 0    Swansea City 2Fulham 0    Tottenham Hotspur 3Liverpool 1    Southampton 0Manchester City 1    Everton 1Queens Park Rangers 1    Aston Villa 1Reading 3    Manchester United 4West Bromwich Albion 0    Stoke City 1West Ham United 3    Chelsea 1—Agencies