LONDON, March 7: Manchester United stormed to the top of the English Premiership with a convincing four goal drubbing of Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford Wednesday.

Elsewhere Chelsea beat London rivals Fulham 3-2, Leeds restored their fortunes with a 2-0 victory over Ipswich, West Ham edged Everton closer to danger with a 1-0 victory while Southampton and Middlesbrough fought a dour mid-table 1-1 draw.

Liverpool’s beat fellow title contenders Newcastle 3-0 after the match was delayed by 30 minutes because of floodlight failure at Anfield.

David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy each scored twice as United ensured that they leapfrogged Arsenal at the top of the table.

The victory was reminiscent of reigning champions United’s second-half performance in the reverse fixture earlier in the season when they overcame a 3-0 half-time deficit to prevail 5-3.

Beckham made sure United wouldn’t go to sleep when he met a cross from van Nistelrooy, and drilled the ball past Neil Sullivan in the Spurs goal in the 15th minute.

United then doubled their lead when Tottenham defender Mauricio Taricco pulled back Paul Scholes on the edge of the penalty box.

Referee Mike Riley had no alternative but to send-off the Argentine defender and Dutch striker van Nistelrooy continued his hot streak in-front of goal since his 19-million-pound summer transfer from PSV Eindhoven when he converted the 43rd minute penalty.

Beckham added his second goal of the night when he scored in the 64th minute and van Nistelrooy made it 4-0 in the 76th minute when he tapped home Roy Keane’s cross.

Chelsea meanwhile overcame Fulham to win the first ever West London Premiership derby at Stamford Bridge.

Dutch defender Mario Melchiot put the Blues ahead in the 18th minute, but French striker Louis Saha equalised from the penalty-spot in the 20th minute after he was upended by William Gallas in the box.

Icelandic winger Eidur Gudjohnsen put Chelsea further ahead in the 29th minute when he raced on to a through ball from Gianfranco Zola to score his 13th Premiership goal of the season.

Saha added his second in the 73rd minute but Mikael Forssell secured the win for Claudio Ranieri’s Chelsea team with a powerful shot.

Elsewhere, Leeds revived their own European ambitions with their first win in five home games, courtesy of a comfortable victory over Ipswich Town at Elland Road.

The win keeps Leeds fifth in the Premiership, but narrows the gap on fourth placed Newcastle.

Fowler put Leeds ahead just seconds after half-time when he raced onto a loose ball and saw a powerful shot creep past Ipswich keeper Andy Marshall for his ninth Premiership goal for the Yorkshire side since his 11-million-pound transfer from Liverpool.

Harte secured victory when he blasted a penalty into the back of the net in the 78th minute, after Alan Smith was brought down by Marshall.

Southampton and Middlesbrough finished with a point apiece at the St Mary’s Stadium.

Sweden forward Matthias Svensson opened the scoring in the 38th minute when he ghosted past a static Boro defence to shoot the Saints ahead.

However, Noel Whelan cancelled out Svensson’s opener with a strike in the 57th minute, converting Benito Carbone’s cross.

At Upton Park, West Ham and Everton were involved in a relegation dogfight where Trevor Sinclair converted a Joe Cole pass to secure all three points for Glenn Roeder’s side.—AFP

Chelsea 3 Fulham 2

Leeds United 2 Ipswich 0

Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0

Man United 4 Tottenham 0

Southampton 1 M’boro 1

West Ham 1 Everton 0