Manchester United ease past Hull City
Goals by Smalling, Rooney and RVP; Liverpool beat Stoke; Welbeck scores only goal in Arsenal’s win over West Brom.
Robin van Persie answered his critics with a first Premier League goal in a month as Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory over Hull to remain in the top four.
Defender Chris Smalling and striker Wayne Rooney also scored as United completed a hat trick of wins for the first time under Louis van Gaal.
After a slow start to the season, United’s bid to return to the Champions League appears to be on track.
United is two points behind Manchester City, which plays at second-placed Southampton on Sunday. Hull is only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Earlier, Danny Welbeck’s powerful header in the second half secured a 1-0 victory for Arsenal against West Bromwich Albion.
Welbeck scored in the 60th minute when Santi Cazorla ran toward the byline and chipped it back in front of goal. Welbeck soared above the West Brom defense and headed past Ben Foster despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball.
Results:
West Brom 0-1 Arsenal
Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa
Liverpool 1-0 Stoke
Man Utd 3-0 Hull
QPR 3-2 Leicester
Swansea 1-1 Crystal Palace
West Ham 1-0 Newcastle