Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (on ground) celebrates with Michael Carrick (L), Jonny Evans (R) and Ashley Young (partially obscured), after scoring the opening goal during their English Premier League soccer match against Liverpool at Old Trafford
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (on ground) celebrates with Michael Carrick (L), Jonny Evans (R) and Ashley Young (partially obscured), after scoring the opening goal during their English Premier League soccer match against Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England December 14, 2014. Phil Noble

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney opened the scoring in the 12th minute before Juan Mata controversially doubled the lead from an off-side position header in the 40th minute. The rout was completed by Robin van Persie in the 71st minute. In the middle of all these United will have to thank goal-keeper David De Gea for some brilliant saves especially from the England young-star Rahim Sterling to provide the gloss to the score-line. This result gives United manager Louis van Gaal the time and space to imprint his image on the side even more as his United have now firmly secured third spot. Unfortunately it puts more pressure on Liverpool boss Brenden Rodgers as now they trail third placed Manchester United by 10 points.

In the other significant results Chelsea beat Hull two nil at home and Manchester City beat Leicester by an away goal to hold on to the top two league positions. West Ham drew one all away to Sunderland while Southampton lost away to Burney by a goal. Both of them managed to hold on to the fourth and fifth spot respectively. Arsenal thrashed Newcastle United four one at home to come within two points of the top four.

At the La Liga, Real Madrid maintained their vice like grip on the top of the league with a one four thrashing of Almeria away from home. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace. Barcelona were held goal-less away from home at Getafe. Atletico Madrid managed to hold on to third place in-spite of losing at home to Villarreal by a goal. Sevilla also managed to hold on to the fourth place with a goal less draw at home to Eibar.

At the Serie A Juventus are still at the top of the league table after a one all draw against Samdoria while AS Roma managed to cut the difference of points to one from Juventus by beating Genoa by a goal away from home. In the German Bundesliga Bayern Munich stretched their lead at the top of the table to nine points with a four goal away win over FC Augsburg.