Kagawa hat trick keeps United on course for title

• Shinji Kagawa%27s hat trick kept Manchester United on course for the Premier League title
• Demba Ba%27s goal gave Chelsea a much-needed win%2C moving the club into third place in the EPL
• Everton stayed in the hunt for a Champions League spot with a 3-1 win over Reading
• Luis Suarez recorded a hat trick in Liverpool%27s 4-0 rout of Wigan Athletic

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United fans arrived at Old Trafford ready to hail Ryan Giggs, but left with the name of another midfielder on their lips.

Shinji Kagawa made a strong start to his first season at United, but a knee injury sustained in a Champions League match in October kept the Japan international out for two months and left him scratching around for form.

He was back with a bang on Saturday.

Kagawa became the first Asian player to score a hat trick in the English Premier League as he guided the league leaders to a 4-0 win over Norwich.

"It was a brilliant day for him," said United manager Alex Ferguson, who spent 12 million pounds ($18 million) to bring Kagawa from German champion Borussia Dortmund in the offseason.

All three of the goals came from composed finishes, his first on the stroke of halftime a measured volley inside the near post to put United on its way. Kagawa then wrong-footed Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn in the 76th after running onto Rooney's pass and he chipped Bunn to complete his hat trick three minutes from time.

The 23-year-old Kagawa had scored only twice for United before Saturday and Ferguson said he expects more from him next season.

"He is a good finisher," Ferguson said. "His second goal was composed and intelligent, his last was brilliant.

"He missed that period of football in October and November that set him back a bit. He is gradually getting his form back but next year he will be far better, you will see a really good player then."

United defender Rio Ferdinand, who didn't play against Norwich, took to Twitter to praise Kagawa and his "2 silky feet."

Despite his exploits, Kagawa is unlikely to be retained in United's team for Tuesday's Champions League match against Real Madrid having started with midfielders Nani, Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley on the bench for the Norwich game.

Giggs wasn't even in the matchday squad on Saturday but will return against Madrid, where he will make his 1,000th senior competitive appearance, taking in club and country.

Chelsea 1, West Bromwich Albion 0

LONDON (AP) — Demba Ba gave under-fire Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez some much-needed respite by scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, provisionally moving the team into third place in the English Premier League.

A toxic atmosphere had been expected at Stamford Bridge after Benitez's outburst on Wednesday, when he criticized the club's board and supporters for not giving him their full backing since his appointment as interim manager.

However, the backlash never materialized and Ba's 28th-minute goal, from David Luiz's nod-down, helped remove any tension that may have surfaced.

Chelsea was dominant save for a nervy final 10 minutes, and secured a third straight home win in the league to climb above Tottenham, which plays Arsenal on Sunday.

There was a muted response when Benitez emerged from the tunnel and he received only isolated abuse during the game. He has had far worse in his troubled 101-day tenure and maybe his plea for unity got through to some fans, although there was a smattering of banners around the ground — including one that read 'Divided We Fall (hash)Rafaout.'

"I was really pleased with the performance on the pitch and the atmosphere was really good," Benitez said.

"I was really pleased with the fans behind the team," he added. "The players played with more confidence and it was clear it was very positive."

With Chelsea playing some delightful football in the first half, there was no real need for supporters to vent their anger at Benitez after that.

Oscar and Juan Mata had already been denied by West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster by the time Ba opened the scoring with a well-worked corner routine that saw the ball arrive at the feet of Oscar. His cross was met at the far post by fellow Brazilian Luiz, whose header back across goal was met by a low finish from Ba. It was his 15th league goal.

West Brom, which was without top scorer Romelu Lukaku because he was ineligible to play against his parent club, was posing Chelsea no problems and the hosts maintained their dominance in the second half, although the second goal wouldn't come.

Ba missed a great chance to score a second goal when his goalbound shot from close range was blocked while winger Eden Hazard was denied a penalty after appearing to be bundled over by Jonas Olsson. Oscar's volley from Ba's nod-down was well saved by Foster in the 78th.

The longer the game went on, the more tense the crowd became and substitute Peter Odemwingie drew a great save out of Petr Cech with a long-range free kick. From the resulting corner, the Czech Republic goalkeeper needed to show more reflexes to bat away a header toward his own goal by Cesar Azpilicueta.

There is recent precedent for a change of Chelsea manager following losses to West Brom, with the Baggies being the final Premier League opponent for both Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto di Matteo.

Many wondered if this would be Benitez's last stand, but the win should ensure he stays on for the time being.

Everton 3, Reading 1

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) - Everton stayed in the hunt for a Champions League spot by beating struggling Reading 3-1 on Saturday in the Premier League. Marouane Fellaini headed the hosts ahead with his 12th goal of the season late in an evenly-fought first half, and Everton then dominated after the break.

Steven Pienaar doubled the lead with a stunning long-range strike and Kevin Mirallas made it 3-0 before Hal Robson-Kanu grabbed a consolation.

The loss left Reading in the relegation zone and just three points ahead of last-place Queens Park Rangers.

Everton is sixth, six points behind fourth-place Tottenham ahead of Spurs game against Arsenal on Sunday.

Liverpool 4, Wigan Athletic 0

WIGAN, England (AP) - Luis Suarez netted a hat trick Saturday as a rampant Liverpool beat Wigan 4-0, putting the Uruguay forward atop the Premier League scoring list.

After Stewart Downing put the visitors ahead in just the second minute, Suarez effectively decided the game by making it 3-0 by the 34th - his second goal coming with a stroke of luck as he slipped when taking a free kick but the ball deflected off the defensive wall and into the net.

He then completed his hat trick shortly after the break for his 21st league goal of the season, putting him ahead of Manchester United's Robin van Persie on 19.

He joins Robbie Fowler and Fernando Torres as the only Liverpool players to score at least 20 goals in a Premier League campaign. Suarez has now scored 15 goals in as many matches in all competitions, making him one of the top contenders to be crowned player of the year, along with Van Persie and Tottenham's Gareth Bale.

"He's such a pleasure to work with," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. "He has quality, finishing, work-rate and that's what makes him world class."

The win kept Liverpool in seventh place, while Wigan is only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

Downing set the tone for Liverpool as he lost his marker in the penalty area to head home a cross from the impressive Philippe Coutinho, making only his third appearance since joining from Inter Milan.

Coutinho was also involved in the second goal in the 18th minute, taking a pass from Steven Gerrard and providing a perfectly-weighted ball for Suarez, who controlled it and finished clinically.

Suarez was then brought down outside the area by Gary Caldwell and stepped up to take the free kick himself. While the Uruguayan slipped as he connected with the ball, his shot clipped Shaun Maloney on the edge of the wall and beat Ali Al Habsi with the help of the post.

There was no luck involved in the third one, though, as Suarez took a pass from Glen Johnson and beat Al Habsi with a low shot from inside the area.

While Liverpool struggled to convert its possession into goals in the first half of the season, Brendan Rodgers' team has now scored 18 goals in its last six league games - including two 5-0 victories.

Queens Park Rangers 2, Southampton 1

West Ham United 1, Stoke City 0

Sunderland 2, Fulham 2

Swansea City 1, Newcastle United 0