London, March 16:

Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League on Saturday 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 on top as they have better goal difference.

Chelsea kept up in the title race by beating Sunderland 1-0 on a goal from John Terry and are third with 64 points. Liverpool rallied for a 2-1 win over Reading. In other matches on Saturday, 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.

Ronaldo took a cross from Rooney and volleyed the ball past Carroll in the

76th minute for his 22nd league goal and 31st overall this season.

Spanish La Liga

MADRID: An own-goal by Pepe gave Deportivo La Coruna a 1-0 win over Real Madrid, and another bottle-throwing incident involving Real Betis forced the suspension of their match against Athletic Bilbao.

The game was halted in the 72nd minute with Athletic leading 2-1 at Betis’ Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium. Athletic goalkeeper Armando Ribeiro was hit in the face with a bottle thrown from a stand of Real Betis supporters.

Also, Recreativo Huelva beat Murcia 4-2. Despite the loss, Madrid lead the league with 62 points, while Barcelona have 54.