Manchester: Wayne Rooney scored from an exquisitely executed volley as Manchester United beat struggling Aston Villa 3-1 on Saturday to enhance their chances of Champions League qualification.
The captain's eye-catching goal overshadowed two from Ander Herrera as United climbed into third place above Manchester City, who are at Crystal Palace on Monday.
United were leading through Herrera's first-half goal when Rooney used his outstretched left foot to bring down Angel Di Maria's cross and then used his other boot to volley the ball into the net in the 79th minute.
United goalkeeper David de Gea made a rare mistake a minute later, allowing Christian Benteke's shot to go through his legs, but Herrera sidefooted in the third in stoppage time. Villa are three points above the relegation zone.
Everton captain Phil Jagielka scored his fifth goal of the season to give his side a 1-0 victory against Southampton. The England defender reacted sharpest at Goodison Park to sweep home Gareth Barry's cross from close-range at a 16th-minute corner. It was Everton's third successive league win.
James Ward-Prowse was unlucky not to find the net on two occasions for the visitors. He left Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard frozen on the spot with a free kick which whistled just wide and then saw the United States international throw up a hand while diving the wrong way to deny Ward-Prowse's long-range drive.
Everton provisionally moved 11th while Southampton wasted their chance to overtake fifth-place Liverpool.
Bafetimbi Gomis scored twice, including a spectacular overhead strike, as Swansea beat 10-man Hull 3-1, dragging the visitors closer to the relegation scrap.
Ki Sung-yeung put Swansea ahead in the 18th minute and Gomis doubled the lead in the 37th when Hull's defence failed to clear a long header into the area and the Swansea striker reacted with an acrobatic strike into the roof of the net. Paul McShane pulled one back for Hull in the 50th but David Meyler was sent off for a rash challenge three minutes later. Gomis rounded off the win by calmly chipping in the third goal in injury time.
The loss leaves Steve Bruce's team just three points above the relegation zone with seven games remaining. Swansea is eighth.
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