Manchester United took a step closer to winning the Premier League title this weekend with a 2-0 victory at struggling Stoke City.

Goals from Michael Carrick and Robin van Persie at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday mean that United now only need seven points from their final six games to get their hands on a 20th championship.

Elsewhere, Arsenal gave their Champions League hopes a boost with a 3-1 victory over Norwich City and Everton also kept their European dreams alive thanks to a 2-0 win against Queens Park Rangers.

Draws for Aston Villa and Reading did little to change their situations at the bottom of the table, but Sunderland's 3-0 triumph at neighbours Newcastle United saw the Magpies get dragged back into the relegation battle.

Having digested all of the action, Sports Mole chooses the 11 players who made their mark.

Alex McCarthy (Reading)
The young goalkeeper was indomitable against Liverpool as a number of heroic saves earned the Royals a creditable point at Anfield.

Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
The England Under-21 international was a confident, composed presence for Southampton in their draw with West Ham, never shunning the opportunity to help his teammates at both ends of the pitch.
Sylvain Distin (Everton)
Distin was a dominant force at the back during the Toffees' win against QPR, but he also added plenty in attack including an assist for Victor Anichebe's goal.
Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd)
The United captain held his own against the brute strength of Stoke City, giving a dogged display in the centre of defence.
Leighton Baines (Everton)
A typical Baines performance for the full-back against QPR: Giving as good as he got at the back, while creating the opposition plenty of problems with his marauding runs down the flank.

Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
The England international changed the game as a substitute at the Emirates Stadium, helping the Gunners come from behind to beat Norwich with a dynamic performance on the wing.
Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
Coutinho pulled the strings for his side from midfield against Reading, but was ultimately let down by his strikers and the goalkeeping heroics of Alex McCarthy.
Charles N'Zogbia
The Frenchman has hit form just at the right time for struggling Villa and scored a wonderful goal in their draw with Fulham.
Stephane Sessegnon (Sunderland)
In the hostile atmosphere of the Tyne-Wear derby, Sessegnon looked like his old self in the final third of the pitch to help Sunderland get one over on local rivals Newcastle.

Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)
He may have played in midfield for the majority of United's win at Stoke, but Rooney was a danger all afternoon at the Britannia Stadium as he and his teammates edged closer to the title.
Victor Anichebe (Everton)
Anichebe has flourished for Everton in recent weeks and was rewarded for his determination against QPR by scoring his eighth goal of the season.