UPDATE 1-Soccer-Premier League reports

LONDON, March 15 (Reuters) - Brief reports of Premier League
matches played on Saturday:

ARSENAL 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1

Arsenal drew for the fourth successive league match and were
knocked off the top of the table after failing to beat
Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium.

Former Arsenal forward Jeremie Aliadiere, returning from a
four-match ban, put Boro ahead after 25 minutes and although
Arsenal dominated for long periods, their only goal came from a
Kolo Toure header which came off Boro defender Matthew Taylor
four minutes from time.

Boro finished with 10 men after substitute Mido was sent off
after only nine minutes on the field for a high tackle on Gael
Clichy.

- - -

DERBY COUNTY 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Manchester United took 76 minutes to break down Derby with
Cristiano Ronaldo sidefooting past former United keeper Roy
Carrooll after a cross from Wayne Rooney. The goal and the three
points were enough to see them displace Arsenal at the top of
the table.

United were expected to win easily against the bottom club
but were continually thwarted by Carroll and some determined
defending as Derby offered unexpected resistance following their
6-1 demolition at Chelsea on Wednesday.

- - -

LIVERPOOL 2 READING 1
Marek Matejovsky scored his first goal for Reading with a
stunning 20-metre volley that flew in off the crossbar after
only five minutes.

Javier Mascherano replied with his first goal for Liverpool,
also a flyer from outside the box after 19 minutes.

Fernando Torres put Liverpool ahead with his 20th league
goal of the season, heading home a Steven Gerrard free-kick
early in the second half as the home side won their fifth
successive league match.

- - -

PORTSMOUTH 2 ASTON VILLA 0
Portsmouth moved above Aston Villa into sixth place,
although both teams finished with only 10 men at Fratton Park.

Jermain Defoe maintained his good scoring form since joining
Pompey with a superbly-executed goal after 11 minutes when he
chipped the ball over Scott Carson.

Portsmouth doubled their lead six minutes before halftime
when Carson's clearance hit his own midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker
and bounced into his own goal. Sulley Muntari of Portsmouth and
Villa defender Olof Mellberg were both dismissed after receiving
two yellow cards.

- - -

SUNDERLAND 0 CHELSEA 1
Chelsea maintained their title challenge with a battling 1-0
win after skipper John Terry scored his first goal of the season
when he glanced home an inswinging Frank Lampard corner after 10
minutes.

Kenwyne Jones had an excellent chance of scoring a late
equaliser for the home side but missed with a header after
out-jumping Terry in the dying minutes.

- - -

WEST HAM UNITED 2 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1
Roque Santa Cruz stooped to head home a cross from Morten
Gamst Pedersen to put Rovers ahead after 19 minutes. West Ham
equalised after impressive approach work and a neat finish from
Dean Ashton after 39 minutes.

The home side, beaten 4-0 in their last three matches, ended
that run when teenage substitute Freddie Sears scored his first
senior goal on his debut with a late header.

- - -

Playing on Sunday

Fulham v Everton 1330 GMT

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur 1600 GMT

Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers 1500 GMT

Playing on Monday

Birmingham City v Newcastle United 2000 GMT
(Compiled by Mike Collett; Editing by John Mehaffey)