Manchester United recorded their biggest Premier League win since August as they romped to a 3-0 victory in a one-sided clash with Everton at Old Trafford.

Darren Fletcher sent the champions on the right road with a magnificent first-half volley.

Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia gave a truer reflection of United's dominance after the interval to close the gap on leaders Chelsea back to five points.

For United's opener Fletcher did not exactly have the Everton goal at his mercy as Antonio Valencia stretched to nod a deep Patrice Evra cross into his path 10 minutes before the break. On the edge of the area, surrounded by visiting defenders, Fletcher sent the ball curling into the top corner, giving former team-mate Tim Howard no chance.

Chances were at a premium, with Wayne Rooney going close and Ryan Giggs testing Howard, both efforts from the edge of the area.

The introduction of Ayegbeni Yakubu for Dan Gosling for Everton took a while to have an impact but for a five-minute spell just after the hour mark, it had the hosts in trouble.

An effort from Yakubu that went close was just the invitation United needed to seal the contest.

By his own high standards, Giggs had endured a quiet evening. But, in exactly the right position to retrieve a Rooney shot that would have gone for a throw, the veteran Welshman quickly spotted Carrick on the edge of the area.

It is just the situation Carrick thrives on and he placed a low, precise shot into the corner, again leaving Howard helpless.

Valencia bagged a third when he strode on to Scholes' lay-off to ensure United remained five points adrift of Chelsea and, with injuries beginning to bite at Arsenal, the title race already looks to be narrowing to two.