Alan Curbishley made an unhappy return to The Valley with his new club West Ham as Charlton claimed three points and a huge psychological advantage in the fight to stay in the Premiership with a rousing 4-0 win.

The hosts seized the advantage in the 24th minute when Marcus Bent crossed from the right and Darren Ambrose connected with a cushioned left-foot volley that was too good for Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green.

Jerome Thomas added a second 10 minutes later when he took on Calum Davenport and fired a low left-foot shot across Green and into the far corner.

The Hammers' embarrassment increased when Paul Konchesky was dispossessed by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who released Darren Bent to tuck in Charlton's third.

The humiliation was completed by Thomas with 10 minutes to go, as the former Arsenal player sidefooted home from Ambrose's low cross from the right. The win moved the Addicks three points above West Ham.

At the other end of the table, Manchester United moved nine points clear of Chelsea with a 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage thanks to a late winner from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Brian McBride fired the hosts in front with his 12th goal of the campaign following a penalty-box mix-up between Edwin van der Sar and Nemanja Vidic.

Fulham were outstanding in the opening stages but stand-in Red Devils skipper Giggs pulled the visitors level when he met Wayne Rooney's far-post cross with a mishit volley, which flew into the bottom corner.

But Ronaldo, as so often this season, proved United's saviour in the 88th minute, running from his own half and drilling a shot past Cottagers goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka with the aid of a deflection off Philippe Christanval.

Third-placed Liverpool were too good for Sheffield United as they followed up their Champions League heroics in Barcelona with a 4-0 win at Anfield.

The Reds took the lead from the spot in the 20th minute after Blades defender Rob Kozluk was penalised for fouling Steven Gerrard as the pair jostled for position at a corner.

Robbie Fowler converted it and had another to take five minutes later when Gerrard was again fouled in referee Steve Bennett's opinion, this time by Nick Montgomery. Fowler's brace constituted his first Premiership goals since scoring a penalty against the Blades on the opening day of the season in August.

Liverpool added a third with 20 minutes remaining as centre-back Sami Hyypia prodded a shot past Paddy Kenny following a Jermaine Pennant corner and Gerrard added an excellent fourth, firing across Kenny after bringing a superb Fowler pass under his spell.

Everton strolled to a 3-0 victory at bottom club Watford and revived their hopes of ending the season with European qualification.

Whether this will appease the disgruntled Toffees fans who claim the club lacks real ambition remains to be seen but the result was certainly another bitter blow for Adrian Boothroyd's side.

A draw would have lifted Watford above West Ham but goals from Manuel Fernandes and Andrew Johnson midway through the first period knocked the stuffing out of the Hornets and substitute Leon Osman curled in a fine third in stoppage-time.

Everton now move above Portsmouth, who are at Blackburn on Sunday, and into seventh place.

Middlesbrough clipped high-flying Reading's wings as they claimed a 2-1 win at the Riverside.

Boro forged ahead after six minutes when Emanuel Pogatetz nodded down a free-kick into the box and Mark Viduka's improvised back-heel from close range beat goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

Their second arrived midway through the second half when Viduka passed to Ayegbeni Yakubu and the Nigerian turned and rifled in an unstoppable shot.

John Oster's well-placed shot from Glen Little's cross halved the deficit, but Gareth Southgate's men claimed the three points.