Ronaldo helps United rout 10-man Reds

LONDON, England -- Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 34th goal of the season as Manchester United took a five-point lead over Chelsea in the Premier League title race, with a 3-0 win over 10-man Liverpool on Sunday.

Wes Brown and Nani also scored at Old Trafford where Liverpool played the entire second half a man down after Javier Mascherano was sent off for two yellow cards. Chelsea leapfrogged Arsenal into second place by beating them 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, with both goals coming from Didier Drogba.

Bacaray Sagna had given Arsenal a 59th minute lead. In a nervy opening first half at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo had chances before the Red Devils went ahead.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina almost palmed the ball into his own goal in the 33rd minute and fumbled again a minute later to allow United to take the lead.

Rushing out to punch away a cross from Rooney, Reina was beaten to the ball by Brown, who headed it over the line. It got worse for Liverpool in the 44th minute when Mascherano was sent off for arguing with referee Steve Bennett over a foul by United defender Rio Ferdinand on Liverpool forward Fernando Torres.

Just beforehand, Torres had been booked for dissent.

A clearly angry Mascherano initially refused to leave, with members of the Liverpool coaching staff attempting to calm him down before manager Rafa Benitez eventually persuaded him off the field.

Mascherano was shown his first yellow in the 10th minute for a foul on Paul Scholes.

Ronaldo scored his 25th Premier League goal after 79 minutes -- moments after Reina pushed another of his attempts on to the crossbar. The Portugal winger headed in his goal from a corner by Nani. United made it 3-0 nine minutes from time through Nani, who played a one-two with Rooney before shooting into the corner.

True Man Utd color, I really worries when Sir Fergie leave the MU, how are they going to perform miracle like this years after years ?