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Manchester United look set to push Chelsea all the way for the Premiership title following a convincing 2-0 win over Arsenal. Wayne Rooney struck confidently after 53 minutes while Ji Sung Park’s first league goal on 77 earned three precious points at 11/10.

Chelsea brushed aside West Ham United 4-1 at Stamford Bridge despite falling a goal behind and being reduced to 10 men early on. Defender James Collins gave the 12/1 Hammers a dream start after nine minutes and Maniche saw a straight red for a lunging tackle on Lionel Scaloni shortly after.

But two goals in as many minutes from Didier Drogba on 28 and Hernan Crespo on 30 put Chelsea back in control. Further strikes from John Terry on 53 and William Gallas on 68 ensured the 3/10 on a home win was never in doubt.

Liverpool recorded a fifth straight win as Bolton Wanderers suffered a fourth consecutive defeat as they succumbed 1-0 at Anfield. Robbie Fowler celebrated his 31sy birthday by netting the decisive goal for the 8/15 Reds on the stroke of half-time.

Tottenham Hotspur maintained their credentials for a Champions League place next season with a 2-1 win against Manchester City. Paul Stalteri gave 8/13 Spurs the lead a minute before the break while Michael Carrick added a second on 49. Georgios Samaras hit back three minutes later but Martin Jol’s side eased to victory.

Birmingham City’s good run of form continued as they picked up a useful point at Wigan Athletic. Paul Jewell’s side, without a home win this year, took the lead through Andreas Johansson three minutes after the break but David Dunn earned a 13/5 draw on 76.

Portsmouth salvaged a point against Blackburn Rovers. Craig Bellamy gave Rovers the lead after 32 minutes but Lomano LuaLua levelled four minutes before the break. Bellamy put the visitors in front again on 62 but substitute Svetoslav Todorov earned Pompey a share of the points at odds of 9/4 with 12 minutes left.

West Bromwich Albion saw two precious points slip from their grasp as they drew 0-0 with rivals Aston Villa in the Midlands derby. The draw, available before kick-off at 23/10 before, mean Brian Robson’s side remain two points adrift of safety.

Sunderland’s crunch-game against Fulham was abandoned after 21 minutes because of bad weather conditions at the Stadium of Light. Referee Mike Riley abandoned proceeding after 21 minutes after heavy snow made the pitch unplayable. Brian McBride gave the 5/4 Cottagers the lead but the result will not stand.

Manchester United confirmed a second-placed finish and automatic entry into next season’s Champions League with a crushing 4-0 victory over Charlton. Louis Saha broke then deadlock after 19 minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the lead four minutes later. Jason Euell scored an own goal 10 minutes before the break before Kieron Richardson wrapped up an easy afternoon for the 1/5 Reds on 58.

Liverpool ended their season in third with a ninth successive league win at Fratton Park. Robbie Fowler opened the scoring for the Reds after 52 minutes and Peter Crocuh added a second on 84. Ognjen Koroman pulled a goal back for Portsmouth a minute later but substitute Djibril Cisse secured a 4/6 victory a minute before the end.

Arsenal saw off Wigan 4-2 in the last ever match at Highbury to pip Tottenham Hotspur into fourth place. Robert Pires gave the 3/10 Gunners the lead after eight minutes but Paul Scharner equalised for Wigan two minutes later. David Thompson put the Latics in front on 33 but a hat-trick for Thierry Henry after 35, 56 and a penalty after 76 minutes cemented Arsenal’s participation in Europe’s premier competition next season regardless of how they get on in the final against Barcelona.

Tottenham Hotspur’s match at West Ham was shrouded in controversy after 10 Spurs players fell ill with food poisoning before kick-off. Carl Fletcher gave the Hammers the lead after 10 minutes but Jermaine Defoe levelled on 35. Yossi Benayoun ensured agony for Spurs with a 7/2 winner 10 minutes before the final whistle.

Newcastle booked their place in the Intertoto Cup at Bolton’s expense with a 1-0 victory over Premiership champions Chelsea, ensuring a seventh placed finish. Titus Bramble scored the decisive goal after 73 minutes for the 2/1 Magpies.

Bolton managed the win they needed to give them a chance of finishing seventh as they beat relegated Birmingham City 1-0. Ricardo Vaz Te scored the winner after 65 minutes for the 8/13 Trotters.

Everton failed to break into the top 10 as they were held to a 2-2 draw by relegated West Bromwich Albion. Zoltan Gera after 14 minutes and Williams Martinez twom minutes after the break put the Baggies firmly in control. Everton hit back through teenager Victor Anichebe on 84 and Duncan Ferguson crashed in the rebound to equalise at 12/5 after he missed a penalty in stoppage time to mark what could be his last appearance for the club.

Tottenham had one foot in fourth place until Thierry Henry equalised in the North London derby. Robbie Keane gave Spurs the lead after 66 minutes which left Arsenal outraged as their opponents did not play for an injury. However, substitute Henry secured a share of the spoils at odds of 5/2 six minutes before the end.

Newcastle remain on course for an UEFA Cup berth after a convincing 3-0 win against West Brom. Nolberto Solano gave the 4/5 Magpies the lead after half an hour and Shola Ameobi showed there was life after Alan Shearer with a penalty five minutes before the break and a second goal just before the final whistle.

Bolton remain hot on Newcastle’s tail after a 4-1 demolition of Charlton. Vaz Te scored for the 5/6 Trotters after 14 minutes, Kevin Davies on 21 and Jared Borgetti 10 minutes later gave Sam Allardyce’s team a commanding lead. Darren Bent struck a penalty for the Addicks on 76 but Davies netted his second a minute from time to ensure Bolton won by three goals.

Portsmouth left it late to beat relegated Sunderland to edge out of the bottom three. Sunderland, a speculative punt at 8/1 took the lead through Tommy Miller after 70 minutes but Svetoslav Todorov equalised three minutes later. With two minutes remaining, Kevin Kyle gave away a ridiculous hand-ball and Matthew Taylor converted the resultant penalty to ensure a 2/5 home win.

Birmingham gave their survival hopes a boost with a goalless draw at Everton. A dour match with few chances for either side was played out to a 9/4 stalemate.

Being six points away from Portsmouth, West Brom are now 1/100 for relegation while Birmingham City, two points behind Portsmouth, are 3/10. Harry Redknapp’s side are 5/2 outsiders to face the drop, although they have two tough matches remaining in Wigan Athletic and Liverpool.

The FA Cup semi finals were both all-Premiership affairs with Liverpool meeting West Ham in the final on Saturday 13 May.

Liverpool were 16/5 outsiders in their match at Old Trafford but stunned Chelsea by racing into a 2-0 lead. John Arne Riise stuck a free kick after 20 minutes and Luis Garcia fired in a second seven minutes after the break. Didier Drogba took full advantage of a defensive mix-up on 69 but the Reds held firm..

West Ham left it late to dump Middlesbrough out of the cup at Villa Park. Marlon Harewood struck the decisive goal with 12 minutes left for Alan Pardew’s 9/5 outsiders and secured a place in next season’s UEFA Cup as a result.

Chelsea officially clinched the Premiership on Saturday lunchtime with a crushing 3-0 victory over second placed Manchester United. The Blues only needed a draw to confirm the champions status but William Gallas after five minutes, Joe Cole on 61 and Ricardo Carvalho on 73 sealed victory in style as Jose Mourinho’s side retained their Premiership trophy at 6/5.

Another crucial match in the Premiership was Portsmouth’s victory at Wigan Athletic. As predicted in the Walker’s Word column, Pompey’s win at the JJB Stadium relegated both Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion in what was a gloomy day for West Midlands football. Henri Camara gave Wigan the lead after 34 minutes, but Benjamin Mwaruwari’s first goal form the club on 63 and Matt Taylor’s second penalty in as many weeks on 71 ensured a 9/5 away win.

Birmingham City could only muster a goalless draw against Newcastle United when only victory could preserve their Premiership status until the final match of the season. The draw was available at 12/5 before kick-off.

Liverpool went level on points with Manchester United after Saturday’s 3-1 win over struggling Aston Villa. Fernando Morientes opened the scoring after four minutes but Gareth Barry levelled on 58. Captain Steven Gerrard netted on 61 and 65 minutes to ensure a 3/10 victory for Rafa Benitez’s side.

Tottenham Hotspur tightened their grip on fourth place with a 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers. Aaron Lennon struck the decisive goal on the hour for the 7/10 Spurs.

Fulham won their first match away from Craven Cottage with a last gasp goal at Manchester City. Richard Dunne gave City the lead after 69m minutes but Collins John equalised for the Cottagers with six minutes left. Steed Malbranque then fired in a stoppage time winner to secure an unlikely victory at 3/1 odds.

Alan Curbishley’s last match at The Valley as manager of Charlton Athletic ended in defeat as they were beaten 2-0 by 8/5 Blackburn Rovers. Steven Reid broke the deadlock two minutes before the break while a Chris Powell own goal on 65 put Mark Hughes’ side in touching distance of UEFA Cup football.

On Bank Holiday Monday, Arsenal made sure Sunderland went the entire season without a home win with a 3-0 victory at the Stadium of Light. Arsenal, huge 3/10 favourites before kick-off, scored three goals in 14 first half minutes, with a Danny Collins own goal on 28, Cesc Fabregas on 38 and Thierry Henry three minutes before the break.

Manchester United edged one point ahead of Liverpool as they drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough at Old Trafford. United, heavily odds-on before kick-off, saw Ruud van Nistelrooy miss a penalty after 65 minutes and the match ended level at 9/2.