article_snippet: (CNN)Manchester United and skipper Wayne Rooney significantly boosted CNN)Manchester United own chances and delivered a probable knockout blow to Tottenham Hotspur hopes of Champions League qualification with 3-0 home win Sunday.
article_snippet: First half goals from Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney effectively ended the EPL match as a contest, with the win leaving Manchester United in fourth spot, but only two points adrift of second-placed Manchester City.  
article_snippet: Tottenham Hotspur is seventh, six points adrift of the top four.
article_snippet: Tottenham Hotspur's players and fans were probably the only people not to see the funny side, but the joke was on Tottenham's players and fans, having gone into the match seeking a third straight away win at Manchester United and five games unbeaten against the Red Devils.
article_snippet: The victory eases the pressure on manager Louis Van Gaal and Louis Van Gaal expensively assembled side after some lackluster recent performances and last Monday's disappointing FA Cup exit to Arsenal.
article_snippet: It meant Tottenham Hotspur, off the back of two straight wins and with Harry Kane in top form, was favored going into the crucial match, but the young striker barely had a glimpse of goal, until having the young striker side's first shot on target after fully 88 minutes as United dominated.
article_snippet: However, it has a commanding lead plus a game in hand over chasing Manchester City, which lost 1-0 to Burnley Saturday, in a severe blow to hopes of retaining the title.
article_snippet: In Sunday's other EPL clash, Everton eased Everton relegation fears with a 3-0 win over Newcastle, who had Fabricio Coloccini sent off for a foul on Aaron Lennon, who is on loan at Goodison from Tottenham.
highlights_snippet: Manchester United thrashes Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 .
  