London, April 18:

Manchester United put the pressure back on Chelsea after beating Sheffield United 2-0 on Tuesday in the Premier League. Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick scored to give United a six-point lead over two-time defending champion Chelsea.

Arsenal moved into third place with a 3-1 win over Manchester City. Tomas Rosicky, Cesc Fabregas and Julio Baptista all scored for Arsenal.

Carrick chipped the ball into the net from close range in the fourth minute. Rooney doubled the lead in the 51st with a hard shot from inside the area.

Rooney nearly scored another in the sixth minute but his left-footed shot went into the chest of Kenny after a nice move to get around a defender. Ronaldo had two chances for United in the second half, but Kenny made a diving save to deny him in the 63rd, and the Portugal winger’s shot a minute later was blocked by the defense.

Luton Shelton had Sheffield United’s best chance in the 68th, but Gabriel Heinze made a tackle from behind, which television replays appeared to indicate a foul. In the 88th, Michael Tonge hit the crossbar with a shot from outside the area. Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock felt Heinze’s tackle was a penalty and that the referee was out of position.

United, which leads the league with 81 points, is trying to win three major trophies this season, while Chelsea is aiming for four. Sheffield United, which is in 17th place with 34 points and trying to avoid relegation.

Besides fighting for the Premier league title, both United and Chelsea have reached the FA Cup final and the Champions League semi-finals. Chelsea already has won the English League Cup.

Arsenal’s win pushed it into third place with 62 points, but Liverpool can reclaim the position by beating Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Eboue sent in a cross from the right and Rosicky volleyed it into the net in the 12th to provide Arsenal the lead. DaMarcus Beasley equalized for City in the 41st after a poor clearance from Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. Beasley took a pass from Michael Johnson and shot the ball into the far corner.

Fabregas scored from 25 yards in the 73rd and Baptista made it 3-1 in the 80th by knocking a cross from Alexander Hleb into the net.