MANCHESTER United extended their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a routine victory over Everton at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner from the penalty spot just before half time after Mikel Arteta fouled Michael Carrick as the Reds midfielder drove towards goal.
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FIND out how we rated the Reds for their performance in the 1-0 win over Everton. 
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United clashes with Tony Hibbert of Everton during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on January 31 2009 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Chris Coleman/Manchester United via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cristiano Ronaldo;Tony Hibbert
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THE penny has dropped with Cristiano Ronaldo and United will feel the benefit.
Sir Alex Ferguson believes the world and European footballer of the year could not grasp that last season’s phenomenal 42-goal haul might be a one-off. Twelve months ago the 23-year-old was racing along to a record-breaking personal campaign, with 27 goals from 30 appearances. 
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NEMANJA Vidic will miss the first leg of Manchester United’s Champions League tie with Inter Milan after being suspended for one match following his red card in the Club World Cup final.
Vidic was dismissed for swinging an elbow into the face of LDU Quito’s Claudio Bieler in Yokohama on December 21.
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WAYNE Rooney will not figure for Manchester United against Everton - although the striker is expected to return to action at West Ham next Sunday.
Rooney limped out of United’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan earlier this month after picking up a hamstring injury but could now be available for England’s friendly with Spain in Seville on February 11. 
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THE comparisons with Juan Sebastien Veron are long gone. As are suggestions that Dimitar Berbatov is a £32.75m flop.
Sir Alex Ferguson was adamant that his most expensive signing would turn out to be one of his shrewdest. And while it would be as foolhardy now to label the Bulgarian an unqualified success, as it was to dismiss him so soon in his United career, the signs are good. 
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SIR Alex Ferguson is confident United midfielder Owen Hargreaves will be fit for the start of next season.
Hargreaves has been forced to undergo two operations under the guidance of Colorado-based knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman in a bid to cure a tendinitis problem that has plagued him since his arrival from Bayern Munich 18 months ago. 
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RIO Ferdinand has revealed how Old Trafford’s United Nations are driving Sir Alex Ferguson towards an unprecedented quintuple.
United are chasing trophies on four fronts, having already secured the Club World Cup. And Ferdinand is convinced that it is Ferguson’s ability to knit together a squad of so many different nationalities that is the key to their success. 
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ZORAN Tosic, United’s new signing from Partizan Belgrade, provided most of the highlights in a dour Premier Reserve League stalemate at Altrincham on Thursday night.
The Serbian made several penetrating runs at the Liverpool defence in what was an otherwise disappointing first half. 
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