Football: Man Utd join beaten City at top of league

Manchester United moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League today after Alex Ferguson's side overcame Stoke 2-0 while former United player Darron Gibson's goal condemned City to a 1-0 defeat at Everton.

Ireland midfielder Gibson left United to move to Goodison Park earlier this month and his strike on the hour proved decisive.

United, who trail their rivals on goal difference, eased past Stoke thanks to two penalties at Old Trafford from Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov.

City and United have 54 points from 23 matches, five ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs cemented third place after Gareth Bale scored twice in a 3-1 romp over bottom side Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane.

Bale's eighth and ninth league goals of the campaign came either side of a Luca Modric goal. Substitute James McArthur got a late consolation for Wigan.

A stoppage-time own goal by Neil Taylor rescued a point for fourth-placed Chelsea, on 42 points, who escaped from Swansea City's Liberty stadium with a 1-1 draw.

Things looked bad for Andre Villas-Boas's side who trailed to a first-half goal from their former player Scott Sinclair and had defender Ashley Cole sent off with four minutes remaining.

But Portugal defender Jose Bosingwa then got lucky in the fourth minute of added time when his shot took a big deflection off Taylor to beat keeper Michel Vorm.

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll ended his goal drought to help fire the Anfield side up one place to fifth, above inactive Arsenal, after a 3-0 victory at struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers who remain in the bottom three.

Carroll broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half with his first goal in 12 league games before Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt rewarded Liverpool's dominance.