Wayne Rooney scored two goals for Manchester United to beat Sheffield United 2-1 on Saturday and maintain its three-point lead atop the Premier League.

Rooney scored in the 30th and 75th minutes, rallying the Red Devils who fell behind to a 13th-minute goal by Keith Gillespie. It was Man United's seventh straight league victory.

Two-time defending champion Chelsea kept winning too, beating West Ham 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Geremi's 22nd-minute free kick.

Manchester United has 34 points, three more than Chelsea.

Portsmouth moved into third place with 23 points, rallying for a 2-1 victory on a late penalty in the 89th by Lomana LuaLua.

Arsenal slipped further off the pace, drawing 1-1 at home against struggling Newcastle for 22 points.

Kieron Dyer gave the Magpies a 1-0 lead in the 30th, and Thierry Henry _ rested in the first half by manager Arsene Wenger _ equalized in the 70th.

In other results on Saturday, it was: Everton 1, Bolton 0; Manchester City 3, Fulham 1; Reading 2, Charlton 0.

Liverpool played late at Middlesbrough.

On Sunday, it's: Wigan vs. Aston Villa and Blackburn vs. Tottenham.

Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson credited his midfield for the victory.

``A certain maturity is helping us,'' Ferguson said. ``I think Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes are using all that experience in the midfield, taking their time, being patient, probing away for opportunities.

``And when you've got front players like we've got _ if we get chances, one or two will take them.''

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho gave credit to Geremi, who seldom plays for the Blues but got the winner on a perfectly placed free kick.

``He (Geremi) takes free kicks, but he doesn't play a lot,'' Mourinho said. ``He practices a lot, but I don't give him a lot of chances to play. So now I am giving him chances to play and he's playing well.''

Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta scored in the 60th, giving Everton a 1-0 victory over Bolton.

Man City, 3-1 winners over Fulham, put the game out of reach with three goals in the first half. Bernardo Corradi scored twice _ in the 12th and 32nd minutes _ with Joey Barton adding the third in injury time. Collins John scored in the 62nd for Fulham.

Reading continued to be the best of the promoted teams, beating last-place Charlton 2-0 on goals by Seol Ki-hyeon and Kevin Doyle.

In the League Championship, leaders Cardiff lost 1-0 on Friday to Queens Park Rangers. Cardiff has 36 points, the same as Preston. Preston defeated Leicester 1-0 on Saturday.

Birmingham City has 34 points in third place after a 1-1 draw with Wolves. Burnley stayed on 31 points in fourth place, losing 3-0 to West Brom. West Brom has 29 points in sixth place.

Fifth-place Derby, with 31 points, beat Luton 2-0.