MANCHESTER — Liverpool and Arsenal capitalized on a rare slip-up by Premier League leader Chelsea by claiming away wins at their fiercest rivals Sunday to close up an intriguing four-team race for the title. Liverpool humiliated soon-to-be-deposed champion Manchester United in a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, with Steven Gerrard converting two penalties and Luis Suarez also scoring in a one-sided match that highlighted the gulf that has emerged between the two foes. “It's a nightmare,” said United striker Wayne Rooney. Tomas Rosicky's superb goal after 72 seconds sealed Arsenal's battling 1-0 win at Tottenham, a result that also likely knocked Spurs out of contention for a top-four finish. The gap between Chelsea, which lost 1-0 at Aston Villa Saturday, and fourth-place Manchester City is now six points and all three teams chasing the leaders have games in hand over Jose Mourinho's side. Chelsea had two players and coach Mourinho sent off during its defeat at Aston Villa. On the darkest day of David Moyes' tumultuous first season at Old Trafford, United was embarrassed in front of its own fans by a rival that is attempting to recreate its glory days of the 1970s and 1980s, when it dominated English football.Liverpool's last English league title came in 1990 but Gerrard said the team proved it was a genuine contender by running United ragged in a match the visitors could easily have won by six or seven goals. Such is the beleaguered state of United's campaign that the team has to win its remaining nine games to avoid finishing with its lowest haul of points in the Premier League era. And such is the downward spiral under Moyes that Liverpool has gone from finishing 28 points behind United last season to 14 points ahead of them this season. While Liverpool produced another masterful attacking display, Arsenal was more than happy to win ugly at White Hart Lane. Tottenham stayed fifth and is seven points behind City having played three games more. AC Milan loses at home to Parma AC Milan fought back from two goals down but lost 4-2 at home to Parma after playing almost the entire Serie A match with 10 men Sunday. Former Milan striker Antonio Cassano scored a brace, including a penalty after Rossoneri goalkeeper Christian Abbiati was sent off in the fifth minute for bringing down Ezequiel Schelotto. Adil Rami's header and a penalty from Mario Balotelli saw Milan level but Amauri and Jonathan Biabiany secured the result for Parma. Elsewhere, bottom club Sassuolo beat 19th-placed Catania 3-1 and nine-man Livorno beat Bologna 2-1 in tense relegation battles. Bologna has replaced Livorno in the bottom three. Lazio won 2-0 at Catania while earlier Atalanta eased to a 3-0 win over Sampdoria. — Agencies
