Manchester United prepared for the FA Cup semifinals by beating Crystal Palace 2-0 on Wednesday to enhance its bid to break into the top four places and qualify for the Champions league.
United profited from an own goal in the fourth minute when Damien Delaney inadvertently turned a cross from Matteo Darmian into his own net.
Darmian did manage to score his first goal since joining United last year, a stunning left-footed striker that hit the post on the way into the net in the 55th minute.
With four games remaining, United is only two points behind third-place City.
United could face Palace again this season, in the FA Cup final on May 21, if both teams navigate their way through this weekend's Wembley semifinals. United plays Everton on Saturday.
Palace's seven changes at Old Trafford showed how much of Alan Pardew's focus was on the london club's semifinal against Watford on Sunday.
It was little surprise goalkeeper Julian Speroni was beaten so early into his first appearance of the season.
Darmian has struggled at times during his maiden season in English football but made an impressive impact. The Italy defender broke free down the left and sent in a cross that Delaney connected with, directing it low and hard past Speroni.
But United couldn't extend its lead in the first half.
Juan Mata tried his luck with a low drive and Anthony Martial forced an acrobatic save as United attacked with unusual panache.
A wayward Emmanuel Adebayor shot was the only chance of note Palace could muster during a half in which the majority of play was at the other end.
Impressive pressing from Rashford resulted in Mata getting in a shot that Speroni did well to tip wide, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Darmian opening his United account in style. Darmian controlled a clearance and hit an exquisite strike from the edge of the box that went in off the post.
It was an impressive goal that Rooney tried to add to with a dipping effort, before lingard and Rashford were then denied by Speroni in quick succession.
liverpool rout Everton 4-0
lIVERPOOl: liverpool striker Divock Origi scored before being carried off on a stretcher as Everton was overwhelmed 4-0 in Wednesday's Merseyside derby.
Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori was sent off five minutes into the second half for stamping on Origi, providing a fitness concern for liverpool ahead of next week's Europa league semifinal with Villarreal.
Everton is looking forward to a semifinal of its own — Saturday's FA Cup meeting with Manchester United — and this was the worst possible preparation.
As well as Funes Mori's dismissal, fellow center back John Stones limped off injured as Daniel Sturridge scored liverpool's third in the 61st minute.
Headers from Origi and Mamadou Sakho gave liverpool the lead at the end of the first half and Philippe Coutinho's 76th-minute strike completed the rout.
Vardy backed by Hodgson
lONDON: England coach Roy Hodgson backed Jamie Vardy on Wednesday, saying the leicester striker did not dive in the incident that led to him being sent off last weekend and sympathizing with his angry response to the referee.
Hodgson's employer, the English Football Association, charged Vardy with improper conduct over his reaction to the red card in Sunday's 2-2 draw with West Ham. Vardy is set to have his standard one-match ban extended by the FA if he is found guilty. That could damage leicester's bid for the title, with the team five points clear of Tottenham with four games remaining.
Vardy, though, could now use Hodgson as a character witness. leicester's top scorer tangled with Angelo Ogbonna before going down in the penalty area early in the second half.
"I don't see that as a dive," Hodgson said. "I think he was unbalanced. I don't think it was a penalty either, I think he was unbalanced, running at that speed.
"I think there was a very slight sort of contact with the defender, who was trying to cover."
Vardy confronted referee Jon Moss, jabbing a finger at the match official while appearing to express his anger at receiving his first red card of the season.
"I sympathize with him, I think he was very, very unlucky," Hodgson said.