Cristiano Ronaldo [Images] scored twice as Manchester United beat Fulham 2-0 at Old Trafford on Monday to climb to second in the Premier League.
Arsenal, who won 2-1 at Aston Villa on Saturday, lead with 36 points from 14 matches with a game in hand. United have 33, Chelsea 31 and Liverpool and Manchester City 30.
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 10th minute, hitting a fine volley into the top far corner from Nemanja Vidic's header. It was his 12th goal of the season and seventh in the league.
The Portugal winger, second to Brazil's [Images] Kaka [Images] for the Ballon d'Or at the weekend, struck again 13 minutes into the second half, rising above defender Dejan Stefanovic to head substitute John O'Shea's cross past keeper Antti Niemi.
