AP
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo (bottom left) celebrates scoring against Derby County with teammates Darren Fletcher (right) and Wayne Rooney during their BPL match at Pride Park yesterday. United won 1-0.

LONDON (AP):

Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League yesterday after Arsenal drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough.

United won their match, thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a late winner in a 1-0 victory over bottom club Derby. Arsenal needed an 86th-minute goal from Kolo Toure to salvage a draw in their game. It was the fourth consecutive league draw for Arsenal.

Both clubs now have 67 points but Manchester United are top because they have a better goal difference.

Chelsea kept up in the title race by beating Sunderland 1-0 and are third with 64 points.

"I think the league now is bubbling up very nicely," Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said before Arsenal played. "It should be a fantastic finish to the season."

Other matches

Liverpool rallied for a 2-1 win over Reading after Fernando Torres scored the winner for his 20th league goal of the season. In other matches yesterday it was: Portsmouth 2, Aston Villa 0; Sunderland 0, Chelsea 1; and West Ham 2, Blackburn 1.

Middlesbrough took the lead in the 25th minute when Tuncay Sanli passed for former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere to score.

Arsenal squandered several chances to score, mainly through Cesc Fabregas, until Toure headed in Arsenal's leveller. Two minutes later, Middlesbrough striker Mido was sent off for kicking Gael Clichy's head.

Arsenal drew with Birmingham, Aston Villa and Wigan in their previous three league matches.

"Hopefully we will not regret that," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said of the dropped points. "It doesn't go for us at the moment but we have to go through a patch like that and show our strengths."

Shot saved

United had numerous chances in the first half - Ryan Giggs sent a header into the arms of Derby goalkeeper Roy Carroll and sent another two shots wide, Ronaldo curled a chance wide and struck the post and Wayne Rooney had a shot saved.

Derby forced United goalkeeper Ben Foster into two saves near the end of the half, stopping shots from Mile Sterjovski and Kenny Miller. It was Foster's first start since he joined the club in July 2005 because Edwin van der Sar was sidelined with a groin injury and second-choice Tomasz Kuszczak was suspended.

Carroll, who played at United between 2001 and 2005, stopped Ronaldo's free kick and a header in the space of a minute in the second half and the Portuguese winger then sent a free kick wide before he finally scored in the 76th minute. He took a cross from Rooney and volleyed the ball past Carroll for his 22nd league goal and 31st overall this season.

"In the first 20 minutes we should have been four or five up, and that would have made it much, much easier for us," Ferguson said. "You have to admire the second half from Derby. They made a real battle of it.

"But the name of the game is to win, and we have to thank Ronaldo again. It was a fantastic goal because it wasn't easy to take."

Derby, who are almost certain to be relegated, now haven't won in the league in 24 matches.

Chelsea scored in the 10th minute when Terry headed in a corner from Frank Lampard - his first goal for the club since the opening day of the season.

"It is not easy to play here," Chelsea manager Avram Grant said. "Sunderland are fighting for their lives and they fought very, very well."

Reading took the lead at Anfield after five minutes when Marek Matejovsky scored from a volley.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard sent a long-range shot just over the bar before Javier Mascherano scored the equaliser in the 19th into the top corner - his first goal for the club.

Torres scored his 27th goal of the season in the 48th minute, heading in from a free kick from Gerrard.