Wayne Rooney sent Manchester United three points clear in the Premier League on Monday, scoring a first-half goal in a 1-0 victory over Fulham to earn the reigning champions their sixth straight league win.

The England striker ensured United capitalised on title rival Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at Stoke on Saturday by stroking home a close-range winner high into the net in the 42nd minute at Old Trafford.

With only eight games left in the campaign and with what appears an easier run-in than Manchester City, United is now the favourite to extend its record haul of English titles to 20 at the expense of one of its fiercest rivals.