Carrick inspires dominant derby win for Man United, Liverpool draw again

MANCHESTER, England, Jan 17 : Manchester United re-ignited their season with an exhilarating 2-0 derby day victory over Manchester City whose Premier League title hopes suffered a devastating blow on Saturday.

Former player Michael Carrick's return for a second stint as interim manager could hardly have gone better as United lifted the gloom over Old Trafford with a deserved victory.

Goals by Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu after the break rewarded a dominant display by the hosts who moved temporarily into the top four before Liverpool later dropped them to fifth.

Second-placed City have now gone four Premier League games without a victory and should Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest in the late game Pep Guardiola's team will be nine off the pace.

Arsenal have 49 points from 21 games with City on 43 from 22 while Aston Villa, who host Everton on Sunday, also have 43.

Liverpool climbed back above United with 36 points but drew for the fourth league game in succession, held 1-1 at home by second-bottom Burnley.

Chelsea's new manager Liam Rosenior enjoyed victory in his first Premier League game in charge as his side beat Brentford 2-0 at Stamford Bridge with goals by Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer as they leap-frogged their opponents into sixth place.

West Ham United won 2-1 at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to snap a 10-game winless run in the league and revive their survival hopes - Callum Wilson sealing victory in  stoppage time.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side remained four points from the safety zone but will take a huge lift from a result that heaped more pressure on Tottenham manager Thomas Frank.

GLOOM LIFTED

United had won only once in their six previous league matches and exited the FA Cup last week, meaning they have only a European