15th March, 2015
Wayne Rooney was firmly in the spotlight as fourth placed Manchester United produced a rare heavyweight display in a spluttering campaign to move within one point of third placed Arsenal.
Louis van Gaal’s side made the perfect start as they took the lead in the ninth minute when Marouane Fellaini, played in by Michael Carrick’s fine pass, kept his composure to beat Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris with a low left-footed shot.
Carrick went from provider to scorer 10 minutes later when United’s former Tottenham midfielder looped a header past Lloris after Fellaini’s initial effort had only been half cleared.
It was Carrick’s first goal since February 2014, but Rooney ensured the match would be remembered mostly for his contribution in the 34th minute.
Earlier on Sunday, video footage emerged of Rooney being knocked out by Stoke defender Phil Bardsley during a supposedly friendly sparring session, with both men wearing boxing gloves, in the England striker’s kitchen last month.
And Rooney seized the opportunity to poke fun at himself after he rampaged through the Tottenham defence to fire home following Nabil Bentaleb’s mistake.
With all eyes on him, Rooney celebrated by miming a series of punches and then falling onto his back as if knocked out.
Elsewhere, Everton eased their relegation fears with a 3-0 stroll against Newcastle at Goodison Park.
Roberto Martinez’s team started the day only three points above the bottom three, but they went in front after 20 minutes when Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy scored his first goal of the season with a 20-yard drive that deceived Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul.
Everton were on course to end a run of five league games without a win by the 56th minute when Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku drove home a penalty after Newcastle’s Yoan Gouffran brought down Aaron Lennon.
Newcastle’s forgettable afternoon got even worse moments later when defender Fabricio Coloccini was shown a straight red card for hacking down Lennon and Ross Barkley netted the third goal in stoppage-time.
On Monday, fifth placed Liverpool, five points behind Manchester United, will look to bolster their challenge for a top four finish when they travel to Swansea.