Berbatov's hat-trick keeps Man U on top

LONDON (AP):

Dimitar Berbatov grabbed his third hat-trick of the season to guide unbeaten Premier League leader Manchester United to a 5-0 thrashing of Birmingham, and Robin van Persie also netted three as Arsenal routed Wigan 3-0 to go second in the table.

The Gunners overtook Manchester City, who lost 1-0 to Aston Villa thanks to new signing Darren Bent's first-half winner. City's fifth defeat of the campaign left the team a point behind Arsenal and three behind United.

Wingers Ryan Giggs and Nani were the other scorers at Old Trafford for United, who swept to an emphatic victory to move onto 22 games without a defeat.

Berbatov, who is the league's leading scorer with 17 goals, became the first player to score three Premier League hat-tricks in a season since Ruud van Nistelrooy achieved the feat for United in the 2002-03 campaign.

First victory

Van Persie put Arsenal in front in the 21st in a one-sided match against 10-man Wigan at Emirates Stadium and the Netherlands international added further goals in the 58th and 85th. He blotted his copybook by missing a second-half penalty, which would have taken him to seven goals in his last three games.

Fourth-place Chelsea visit Bolton tomorrow.

Kenny Dalglish claimed his first victory since returning as manager of Liverpool as the Reds defeated Wolverhampton 3-0 away, thanks to Fernando Torres' double and a sublime volley by Raul Meireles.

Wolves are now level on 21 points with bottom side West Ham, who conceded a late goal at Everton to draw 2-2.

United's stunning home record now stands at 11 wins and a draw from their 12 home matches, with beleaguered Birmingham forced on the back foot for the entire match.

Berbatov gave United the lead after just two minutes with a close-range header and added the second in the 31st. He then linked with Wayne Rooney to set up Giggs for the third just before the break, before completing his hat-trick by sliding home Giggs' cross in the 53rd.

Nani rounded off the scoring with a long-range strike in the 76th as Birmingham failed to end a winless run against United that stretches back to 1978.

Arsenal's win over Wigan was just as one-sided, with the Latics indebted to goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi for keeping the scoreline down.

Van Persie's return to fitness has given the Gunners more of a cutting edge up front and the Dutch striker was in ruthless form as he lashed home the opener from the angle after being put through by Alex Song.

Cesc Fabregas provided the through-ball for Van Persie's second and the Spain midfielder was brought down by Gary Caldwell in the 69th minute, leading to the Wigan defender being sent off and presenting Van Persie with a perfect chance to claim his hat-trick.

Van Persie smashed the spot kick over the bar but he wasn't to be denied as he ran onto Theo Walcott's pass to power home another well-taken finish.

Bent moved to Villa from Sunderland on Tuesday for a reported club-record fee of £18 million (US$29 million) and the England striker made an immediate impact by slotting home the winner in the 18th against City.

Yesterday's results:

Premier League: Wolverhampton 0 Liverpool 3, Arsenal 3 Wigan 0, Blackpool 1 Sunderland 2, Everton 2 West Ham 2, Fulham 2 Stoke 0, Manchester United 5 Birmingham 0, Newcastle 1 Tottenham 1, Aston Villa 1 Manchester City 0.

League Championship: Derby 0 Nottingham Forest 1, Barnsley 1 Swansea 1, Cardiff 4 Watford 2, Crystal Palace 0 Bristol City 0, Ipswich 3 Doncaster 2, Leicester 4 Millwall 2, Middlesbrough 1 Preston 1, Portsmouth 2 Leeds 2, Reading 1 Hull 1, Sheffield United 1 Norwich 2, Scunthorpe 0 Burnley 0.

League One: Bournemouth 1 Brighton 0, Bristol Rovers 3 Swindon 1, Charlton 2 Plymouth 0, Dagenham & Redbridge 0 MK Dons 1, Exeter 2 Walsall 1, Huddersfield 0 Colchester 0, Leyton Orient 4 Sheffield Wednesday 0, Notts County 0 Carlisle 1, Oldham 2 Brentford 1, Peterborough 4 Hartlepool 0, Tranmere 2 Southampton 0, Yeovil 0 Rochdale 1.

League Two: Aldershot 3 Crewe 2, Macclesfield 1 Barnet 1, Northampton 2 Oxford 1, Port Vale 0 Cheltenham 1, Shrewsbury 0 Chesterfield 0, Stevenage 2 Morecambe 0, Stockport 3 Lincoln 4, Torquay 1 Gillingham 1, Wycombe 1 Rotherham 0.