Manchester United thrashed Leicester City 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, while Ipswich Town stunned Tottenham 2-1 for their first Premier League victory in 22 years.
Third-placed Nottingham Forest’s fine run also came to an end in a 3-1 home defeat to Newcastle.
Ruben Amorim will be in charge for the first time when United return from the international break.
But Ruud van Nistelrooy was able to hand over the reins with a four-game unbeaten run since stepping up to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
Bruno Fernandes marked his 250th United appearance in style by smashing in his fourth goal in four games after a neat interchange of passes with Amad Diallo.
Fernandes’ burst into the box also created the second goal as his glancing touch deflected off Leicester defender Victor Kristiansen and in for an own goal.
Diallo’s two-goal showing in a 2-0 Europa League win over PAOK on Thursday earned the Ivorian a start over Alejandro Garnacho.
The Argentine, though, came off the bench to show what he is capable of with a stunning strike into the top corner to round off the scoring.
United remain down in 13th but are now just three points off fifth in a congested Premier League table.
Liverpool whip Aston Villa to open 5-point Premier League lead
Ipswich will play host to Amorim’s first match in two weeks and go into that game buoyed by their first win since ending a two-decade wait to return to the top flight.
Tottenham were finally made to pay for their slow starts at home as they went behind for the 13th time in 15 Premier League games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2024.
Sammie Szmodics took advantage of statuesque Tottenham defending to open the scoring with an overhead kick on 31 minutes.
Liam Delap doubled the visitors’ lead in far less spectacular fashion as he lashed in from point-blank range after Radu Dragusin directed a cross towards his own goal.
Spurs had come back to win in eight of the previous 12 matches they conceded first at home this year but this time left themselves with too much to do.
Rodrigo Bentancur reduced the arrears with a powerful header from Pedro Porro’s corner but they fell to a fifth league defeat in 11 games.
With the victory, Ipswich moved out of the relegation zone at Crystal Palace’s expense, while Spurs slipped to 10th.
Arsenal and Chelsea (ongoing game) both start the day 10 points behind leaders Liverpool and in desperate need of a win if they are to challenge for the title.
Captain Martin Odegaard starts for the first time in two months for Arsenal, who are aiming to snap a three-game winless streak in the Premier League.
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