United beat Liverpool to increase lead

By Pete Oliver

MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Manchester United beat 10-man Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday to go five points clear in the Premier League with seven games to go.

Arsenal relinquished second place to Chelsea in a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

A rare goal from unsettled defender Wes Brown in the 34th minute put United ahead and, after the dismissal just before halftime of Liverpool's Javier Mascherano for dissent, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani added late goals.

United extended their streak over fierce rivals Liverpool to seven wins in their last eight meetings.

Brown, who had previously scored only two goals in 10 years for his hometown club but may leave in the close season after rejecting a new contract offer, headed in a Wayne Rooney cross 11 minutes before halftime.

Ten minutes later, Liverpool were reduced to 10 men when midfielder Mascherano, who had been booked early on for a foul, was given a second yellow card by referee Steve Bennett.

The decision prompted a furious response from the Argentina international who had to be dragged away from the official by several team mates.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was also incensed by the decision over Mascherano's response to a booking for Fernando Torres, who could have been sent off himself in the second half as he allowed his frustration to show.