Manchester United stops Aston Villa 2-0

London:

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney scored in each half, moving Manchester United to within six points of league-leading Chelsea with a 2-0 victory Saturday at Aston Villa. Van Nistelrooy scored his 15th goal of the season, chipping the ball over 'keeper Thomas Sorensen in the 10th minute. It was the Dutchman's eighth goal in nine games against Villa in all competitions. Rooney added the second in the 51st, leaving Villa winless in its last 21 games against the Red Devils. The England striker scored his 10th goal of the season, beating Sorensen with a low shot inside the far post. Chelsea leads the Premier League with 43 points in 16 games. United has 37 in 17 games, followed by Liverpool (31), Tottenham (30), Bolton (27) and Arsenal (26). Chelsea plays Sunday at Arsenal. Sunday's other game has Tottenham at Middlesbrough. In Saturday's late games: Everton vs. Bolton, Fulham vs. Blackburn, Manchester City vs. Birmingham City, Portsmouth vs. West Brom, West Ham vs. Newcastle, Wigan vs. Charlton.

Winning streak Chelsea is unbeaten against Arsenal in their last six games in all competitions. Earlier this season, Chelsea defeated Arsenal 1-0 at Stamford Bridge for its first league win against the Gunners since 1995. Chelsea also defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the preseason Community Shield match. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be without striker Jose Antonio Reyes, who has an injured thigh. But Wenger will have striker Dennis Bergkamp returning from a hamstring strain. Liverpool is idle in the league, but plays Sunday in Yokohama, Japan, against Sao Paulo in the final of World Club Championship. Liverpool is trying to win the title for the first time, and Sao Paulo is trying for its third. (AP)