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Berbatov hat-trick downs Liverpool, Chelsea extend lead

Dimitar Berbatov scored Manchester United's first hat-trick against Liverpool for 64 years

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Manchester United threw away a two-goal lead for the second time in eight days before Dimitar Berbatov completed a marvellous hat-trick to earn them a 3-2 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Having tossed away a 3-1 win Everton last Saturday, there was no sign of a repeat as United sauntered into a 2-0 advantage. Berbatov opened the scoring three minutes before half time, and then added a quite brilliant second on the hour.

However, then came another capitulation as Jonny Evans dived in recklessly on Fernando Torres to allow Steven Gerrard to score from the spot, before John O'Shea fouled the Spaniard to give Gerrard the chance to level the scores from a free kick.

With their only two shots on target, Liverpool appeared to have earned a barely deserved draw, but Berbatov struck again six minutes from time to grab victory.

The Bulgarian's hat-trick made him the first United player to score three goals in a game against Liverpool for 64 years, and it included a magical second, which saw him chest the ball down with his back to goal before sending an overhead kick in off the underside of Jose Reina's bar.

Liverpool were toothless all afternoon, despite starting Joe Cole and Raul Meireles, yet they were handed a lifeline through Gerrard's penalty. The Reds could even argue that O'Shea should then have been sent off when he hauled down Torres - who appeared to be clean through on goal - but Gerrard nevertheless administered punishment through the resulting free kick, which crept through a gap in Edwin van der Sar's wall.

Roy Hodgson's men failed to capitalise on their momentum with the score at 2-2 though, and Berbatov towered above Jamie Carragher with six minutes left to earn a vital three points for Sir Alex Ferguson's men.

Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to four points following a 4-0 thumping of Blackpool at Stamford Bridge. Carlo Ancelotti's men have now won five out of five this season, conceding just one goal.

Salomon Kalou started the onslaught with a messy goal from a corner just two minutes in, and Florent Malouda doubled the advantage ten minutes later, tapping home Didier Drogba's centre.

Drogba then added one of his own, albeit with the aid of a huge deflection, before Malouda made the score 4-0 with a fantastic first-time finish from Kalou's assist.

Manchester City capitalised on Liverpool's defeat, beating Wigan 2-0 at the DW Stadium to move up to fourth in the table.

Carlos Tevez broke the deadlock just before half time for Roberto Mancini's men, showing great composure to loft the ball over the goalkeeper. Joe Hart's long punt down field found its way into the Wigan box via the head of Mohamed Diame, and Tevez anticipated the flick better than anybody to open the scoring.

Tevez was involved again in the second as he latched onto Maynor Figueroa's poor header, driving the ball across goal for Yaya Toure to wrap things up.

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