London, January 2:

Manchester United drew 2-2 at Newcastle on Monday, missing the chance to go nine points clear at the top of England’s Premier League. James Milner gave the Magpies a 33rd-minute lead with a 25-yard strike only for Paul Scholes to score twice for the either side of halftime for a 2-1 lead. David Edgar, a 19-year-old Canadian left-back playing only his second game for Newcastle, then salvaged a draw for the home side with a 30-yard right-footed shot from the left. The ball took a slight deflection off Scholes before going inside the far post.

Nolberto Solano cleared a header from Cristiano Ronaldo off the line as United chased a winning goal. However, United was only able to increase its standings lead to seven points ahead of Chelsea’s game at Aston Villa on Tuesday.

Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard scored within two minutes and Liverpool scored three second-half goals to beat Bolton 3-0 to leapfrog Wanderers into third. Dirk Kuyt scored a late goal to ensure Liverpool’s ninth shutout in 10 games. Kevin Doyle scored twice to lead Reading to a 6-0 mauling of West Ham; Tottenham drew 1-1 at Portsmouth; and Blackburn won 3-0 at Wigan.

Middlesbrough beat Sheffield United 3-1; Manchester City edged Everton 2-1; and Fulham drew 0-0 with last-place Watford but lost goalkeeper Antti Niemi to a serious head injury. The Finn was carried from the field and taken to a hospital.