Premier League: Fulham 0 Manchester United 5

Manchester United romped to a 5-0 win over Fulham, keeping the pressure on English Premier League leaders and arch-rivals Manchester City.

United took a 3-0 lead to half-time thanks to goals from Danny Welbeck, Nani and Ryan Giggs, but really turned on the style with their final two goals as Rooney and Berbatov finished with aplomb.

Manchester United – who stay two points adrift from City courtesy of the win – made one change to the side that defeated Queens Park Rangers in West London on Sunday, with Anders Lindegaard coming in to replace David de Gea in goal.

Wayne Rooney became the youngest ever player in the Premier League to make 300 appearances at the age of 26 years and 58 days, eclipsing Gareth Barry’s record of 26 years and 247 days set in 2007.

Fulham were unchanged from their 2-0 victory over relegation strugglers Bolton on Saturday, with Martin Jol keeping his faith in Andrew Johnson as the lone striker up front.

United were almost forced into an early change when Phil Jones, deployed at right-back, challenged with Clint Dempsey in the air and clashed heads with the American.

He was off the pitch for some time before he eventually re-joined the action, with his side taking the lead soon after.

Patrice Evra fed the ball to Nani on the half-way line, and the Portuguese winger allowed to run unchallenged to the byline before sending in a pass to an unmarked Welbeck to slot home.

The hosts almost levelled on 20 minutes after Bryan Ruiz played a neat one-two with Dempsey on the edge of the area before bearing down on goal, only to be thwarted by a fantastic last-ditch tackle from Phil Jones.

It was to be the young defender’s last action of the match as he was substituted immediately after, though it was not clear whether it was due to the block on Ruiz or if he was still suffering the effects of the clash of heads with Dempsey.

It did not seem to phase United, who brought on Ashley Young in his place and doubled their lead soon after.

A series of corners came United’s way ended in a goal for Nani, who glanced a fantastically whipped ball from Ryan Giggs into the far corner.

United’s dominance began to tell as Nani and Valencia continued to combine fantastically down the right wing, and it was the duo who set up the third goal for United before half-time.

After Valencia intercepted a cross-field pass, United broke with speed and Nani found Giggs on the edge of the box.

He attempted to slot home with his left foot, with Senderos sending his shot looping in over the top of the unfortunate Stockdale.

The hosts left the field to a chorus of boos from the fans, and it was perhaps for that reason that Fulham started the second half brightly.

They had three good efforts in the opening 10 minutes, with Lindegaard forced into his first real stop of the match as he got down well to prevent a header creeping over the line.

A minute later, Moussa Dembele went close, with his shot drifting an effort just wide. John Arne Riise then saw a free-kick fade just wide after Danny Murphy’s lay off.

But United held firm, and Wayne Rooney capped his landmark outing with a fine goal on 88 minutes.

Left in too much space far from goal, he drove a fantastic effort in off the post that left Stockdale with no chance.

Two minutes later, substitute Dimitar Berbatov made it 5-0, backheeling the ball into the far corner after a good break and cross from Valencia.