Scholes goes gunning for the title

Ferguson's aspirations are heightened but the bleak midwinter mood deepens for Venables as Houllier rues another setback

So much for the struggle with injuries, so much for the loss of desire, so much for Sir Alex Ferguson losing the managerial plot. Manchester United are right back in the Premiership title race after a comprehensive, calculated and beautifully executed 2-0 victory over the leaders Arsenal at Old Trafford.

All those misguided criticisms, born out of a humiliation in the last Manchester derby to be played at Maine Road, were undermined by United's error-strewn victory at Anfield and consigned to the dustbin yesterday lunchtime when a team shorn of Beckham, Butt, Keane, Ferdinand and, now, Quinton Fortune showed that they have the spirit to overcome the absence of all those talents. So strong was the team ethic that United did not even require a goal from their master striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy – Juan Sebastian Veron and a lively Paul Scholes provided the firepower.

Terry Venables might be interested to know just how Ferguson turned the ship back on to its intended course. The Leeds United manager suffered another defeat in London to follow the loss on his last visit, at Spurs. This time a single goal from the Frenchman Martin Djétou settled Leeds' match with Fulham at Loftus Road.

Leeds are only four points off the bottom of the Premiership and three of the teams behind them have games in hand. Venables cannot here Bow Bells in Yorkshire, but there must be one tolling somewhere nearer by now. Venables, who does not think Leeds are in a relegation battle yet, said: "I'll just keep working. It's a concern for everyone every time a game ticks by – and if you ask me if I've made mistakes, I'd say 'yes'. It's obvious we'd all have done things differently if things haven't been going well," he said.

Liverpool's title challenge was dented when they made it two successive defeats in London, too. Beaten 3-2 by Fulham last month, they went down 2-0 yesterday at Charlton, where goals by Jason Euell and Paul Konchesky left them four points adrift of Arsenal on a day when the top of the table tightened up.

Their neighbours, Everton, also fell foul of a London club, losing 3-1 at home to Chelsea. Goals by Mario Stanic, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Jesper Gronkjaer allowed Chelsea to hop up to second place, two points off the top and one ahead of Manchester United. Claudio Ranieri's persistence continues to pay off in west London, but, after three successive cup and league defeats, it seems the magical spell cast by Everton's new manager has lost its power. Cancel that name change to Moyes-eyside.