Man Utd extend lead at top of Premier League

Champions destroy Wolves to move clear of local rivals as Newcastle beat Norwich and Fernando Torres gets on scoresheet.

Manchester United''s Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans
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Wolves were no opposition for United with Jonny Evans scoring his first goal during the rout [GALLO/GETTY]

Manchester United ruthlessly ripped apart 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers to stroll to a 5-0 victory on Sunday and move four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The champions scored early through defender Jonny Evans, his first goal for the club, and the floodgates opened following the sending-off of Wolves defender Ronald Zubar before halftime.

Right winger Antonio Valencia netted the second and made the third for Danny Welbeck before the interval and striker Javier Hernandez struck twice from close range to seal United’s win with 30 minutes left at Molineux.

The visitors made three substitutions but continued to dominate possession against their dispirited opponents who
slipped to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

United jumped further ahead of second-placed Manchester City who play their game in hand on their local rivals against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Sunday’s other Premier League match saw Newcastle win for the first time in five league matches as they reignited their push for a Champions League spot beating Norwich 1-0.

Papiss Cisse scored the only of the game in the 11th minute but Newcastle keeper Tim Krul had to save from Anthony Pilkington and Zak Whitbread before Steve Morison missed a late chance for Norwich.

Victory left Newcastle five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

Torres scores

Fernando Torres ended a goal drought lasting more than 25 hours by scoring twice for Chelsea in a 5-2 victory over Leicester on Sunday to guide his team into the FA Cup semifinals.

The Spain striker had failed to score for Chelsea since October until he found the net in the 67th minute, and he added another goal in the 85th with a near-post header at Stamford Bridge.

“I needed those goals. I’ve been working so hard to get them”

Fernando Torres

“I needed those goals. I’ve been working so hard to get them,” said Torres, who hadn’t scored for 25 hours, 41 minutes.

“Maybe the job of a striker is to score goals and if you don’t do it people think you’re playing badly.

“But the support has been here and I feel the confidence of the manager (Roberto di Matteo) now. We have some important games coming.”

Liverpool will visit Wembley Stadium for the second time this season after beating Stoke 2-1 in the FA Cup quarterfinals, less than a month after winning the League Cup.

Luis Suarez put Liverpool ahead in the 23rd minute and, although former Reds striker Peter Crouch equalised quickly,

Stewart Downing’s second goal of the season knocked out last year’s runners-up.

Liverpool had not played at Wembley for 16 years until beating Cardiff in a penalty shootout in the League Cup final last month.

FA Cup semi-final draw:

– Tottenham Hotspur or Bolton Wanderers v Chelsea
– Liverpool v Everton or Sunderland

* Ties to be played over the weekend of April 14/15

Source: News Agencies