Liverpool stormed back into the Premier League title race with a stunning 4-1 victory at leaders Manchester United on Saturday.

United looked on course to extend their advantage at the top of the table to ten points when Cristiano Ronald's penalty gave them an early lead.

But Rafael Benitez's side, fresh from their midweek thrashing of Real Madrid in the Champions League, responded in remarkable fashion and left the champions reflecting on the most goals conceded on home turf in 17 years.

The win lifted Liverpool within four points clear of United, who have a game in hand, and left the title race open also to Chelsea, who could level Liverpool on 61 points if beating Manchester City on Sunday.

Arsenal, though out of contention for the title, moved back up to fourth as record signing Andrei Arshavin opened his Arsenal account with a double in a 4-0 home success over struggling Blackburn.

Everton pushed travelers Stoke City back into the drop zone with a 3-1 success while Fulham claimed a first triumph away this season after beating Bolton 3-1.

Relegation battle remains tight and tense. Portsmouth were forced to settle for a point against 10-man Middlesbrough at the Riverside after conceding a last-gasp leveler; Hull City Newcastle were similarly tied 1-1, which did little for either side's hopes of avoiding being sucked into the bottom three; and Sunderland slipped back towards the wrong end of the table after going down 2- 1 at home to Wigan.

United took the lead after 23 minutes through a Ronaldo penalty after Liverpool's keeper Pepe Reina unnecessarily brought down Park Ji-Sung when there appeared to be no imminent danger.

Nemanja Vidic's dismal defending allowed Fernando Torres to equalize soon and the visitors were suddenly 2-1 up a minute before the interval when Steven Gerrard scored from the spot after being upended by Patrice Evra.

Vidic's day got even worse as he was sent off for fouling Gerrard 15 minutes from time and Fabio Aurelio brilliantly curled home the resulting free-kick from 25 yards.

United's torment stretched into stoppage time when Liverpool substitute Andrea Dossena added a late fourth.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2009)