EPL: Dutch wonder Robin van Persie was the difference for Manchester United again this season as the striker scored a typically clinical goal in Man U’s 2-1 win at home to Liverpool.

Man City will have to play their next match without captain Vincent Kompany after their 2-0 win at Arsenal saw red brandished to centre-backs for both teams as Laurent Koscielny was sent off early in the first-half.

Chelsea was the only other top-half team to win in a weekend that mostly saw lower teams scalp points from their superiors. The Blues benefited from two Jonathan Walters own-goals and a Frank Lampard penalty before Eden Hazard sealed the game with a 25-yard belter.

Tottenham were held to a goalless draw by bottom-side QPR while the tie between promising teams Everton and Swansea ended similarly. Reading find themselves still in second-bottom despite coming back from 2-0 down to beat West Brom 3-2.

Aston Villa find themselves in third-bottom after losing 1-0 to Southampton with Wigan, who drew 1-1 with Fulham just above. Sunderland blanked West Ham 3-0, while Norwich and Newcastle ended goalless.

How long can it last?

La Liga: How long can Lionel Messi’s scoring run and Barcelona’s unbeaten streak last seems to be the only uncertainty in this year’s La Liga as Barca now have 55 points of a possible 57.

Messi scored one, for his 28th league goal of the season, and assisted two as Barca beat Malaga 3-1. Real Madrid fans will also be asking how much longer can Jose Mourinho, who was seen in England on Sunday, last as Real Madrid drew 0-0 with bottom side Osasuna.

Atletico are now seven points ahead of their third-placed neighbours as they blanked Zaragoza 2-0. Betis are in fourth after gaining the same scoreline against Levante as a Roberto Soldado brace also gave Valencia the 2-0 win against Sevilla.

Bilbao find themselves on a three-game losing streak and just five points off the relegation zone after losing 2-1 to Rayo Vallecano. Deportivo actually are in the relegation zone despite drawing 1-1 with ninth-placed Sociedad.

Espanyol took a valuable step towards staying up by beat similarly-placed Celta 1-0 while Valladolid beat Mallorca 3-1.

Lazio close gap to three

Serie A: Lazio’s four-game winning streak and Juve’s faltering form have seen the margin at the top of league reduced to three points.

News of Lazio’s 2-0 win at Atalanta must have made Juventus nervous as they sat back after scoring and eventually conceded late at Parma to draw 1-1. Napoli are just two behind Lazio after they blanked Palermo 3-0.

Inter are in the Europa league position as they earned a clean sheet against relegation-threatened Pescara while Alberto Gilardino scored twice in Bologna’s 4-0 rout of Chievo. Antonio Di Natale also netted a brace as Udinese trumped Fiorentina 3-1.

Cagliari snapped there losing streak with a 2-1 win at Genoa to climb out of the relegation zone while woeful Siena find themselves with 11 points from 20 games after losing 3-2 to Torino.

Catania clipped Roma 1-0 while AC Milan were held to a goalless draw by Sampdoria who beat Juve just last week.

— Yakum Fitz-Henley