Man United have removed the gap separating them from Man City with a 5-0 win over Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford.
City's goalless draw away at West Brom means they are now tied with Alex Ferguson's side on 45 points, but still remain top of the table on goal difference.
Ji-Sung Park opened up the scoring for the hosts on seven minutes when he fired in Patrice Evra's cross.
There was controversy just before the break when Wigan's Conor Sammon was sent off for nipping Michael Carrick in the face.
Within moments of the incident Dimitar Berbatov got his first of three goals during the game, and followed it up just before the hour mark.
Antonio Valencia added his name to the scoresheet when he knocked in to the bottom left of the goal from the edge of the area.
Minutes later Park was fouled by Antolin Alcaraz and Berbatov was on hand to convert the resulting penalty and claim his hattrick.
Wigan, who remain 18th in the table, next travel to Stoke on New Year's Eve, while United host struggling Blackburn earlier in the day.
Neil Wilkes
