Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand celebrates after Paul Scholes scored during their English Premier League football match against Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England yesterday. - Reuters

LONDON (Reuters)

Manchester United stormed back to the top of the Premier League yesterday after Paul Scholes marked his 500th game for the club with the opening goal in a comfortable 2-0 win over Liverpool.

Scholes prodded the ball home six minutes before half-time and England defender Rio Ferdinand added only the fourth goal of his four-year United career in the 66th minute, expertly rifling into the top corner.

Victory put United top on 22 points, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference after the champions beat Portsmouth 2-1 on Saturday.

Bolton Wanderers are third on 20 after a dramatic 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers while Arsenal moved up to fourth on 17 with a game in hand after a classy 4-0 away demolition of Reading.

There was a thrilling finale at Blackburn, who lost despite having two penalties in the final minutes. Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen saved both, taken by Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts, while his captain Kevin Nolan was red-carded for dissent.

Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni got a late winner as Middlesbrough beat Newcastle United 1-0, while Tottenham Hotspur edged West Ham United by the same score in a London derby, thanks to Egyptian forward Mido.

The showcase game was at Old Trafford, where United ran out convincing winners over a Liverpool side who are now 11 points off the pace, and their title hopes pretty well in ruins.

SCHOLES' MILESTONE

Scholes, the ninth player to reach the 500-game mark with United, opened the scoring after being left completely unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

His first effort from Ryan Giggs' cross was parried by Spanish keeper Jose Reina but the 31-year-old midfielder made sure by bundling the ball home.

Ferdinand arrowed in the second in the 66th minute after deftly bringing the ball down with his right foot and firing home with his left after Jamie Carragher's botched clearance.

"I'm looking at Manchester United to step forward and make sure they have a real go this year," their manager Alex Ferguson said, despite having 29 games to play.

MASTER CLASS

Arsenal gave Reading a master-class in passing at the Madejski Stadium, taking the lead after 58 seconds when Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas provided the cutback for Thierry Henry to rifle home.

Belarus midfielder Alexandr Hleb fired the second and then turned provider, unselfishly passing for Dutch forward Robin van Persie to score five minutes into the second half.

Henry wrapped up the win by converting a 70th minute penalty after Fabregas was tripped by Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who celebrated his 57th birthday yesterday, told Sky Sports News: "I'm very happy with the performance. The team is really getting better - the understanding is better and the movement is better."

Reading coach Steve Coppell paid tribute to Arsenal for "a fabulous display...it was overpowering," he said.