JOIN USManchester City rout Birmingham
Roberto Mancini's City side stay in the fourth and final Champions League spot on 62 points after 33 games, four ahead of Tottenham Hotspur who have played one less.
In the day's third goalless stalemate Wolverhampton Wanderers eked out another point in their bid to retain their top-flight status, drawing at home to Stoke City.
Manchester City had a useful afternoon with an entertaining victory over ninth-placed Birmingham. After a tepid opening, four goals in under six first-half minutes illuminated the match. A foul on Emmanuel Adebayor allowed Carlos Tevez to give the hosts the lead from the penalty spot on 38 minutes and Nedum Onuoha quickly headed a second, which took a touch off Tevez's boot. The visitor's hit back on 42 minutes when Cameron Jerome was left all alone inside the box to head home, only for Adebayor to immediately score at the other end after a rapid breakaway.
After the interval, lively centre back Onuoha and Adebayor wrapped up the win with two smart finishes to add some glamour to the scoreline ahead of next Saturday's Manchester derby.
Injured Spain striker Fernando Torres was badly missed as Liverpool were held at home by resolute Fulham -- a result that leaves them in sixth place, two points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur who have two games in hand.
Manchester United on Sundaydropped vital league points as they were held to a goalless draw by Blackburn Rovers. "It's going to be very, very difficult to win this league now," Ferguson said. "We'll have a lifeline if Chelsea blow it, but in their eyes they have an easy game against Bolton on Tuesday."