Juan Mata curled in a second-half free kick

LONDON - Manchester Uniteds revival gathered pace with a fourth successive victory in the Premier League against Stoke on Tuesday, and captain Steven Gerrard came to Liverpools rescue against Leicester after being restored to the team. Juan Mata curled in a second-half free kick after Marouane Fellainis equalizer to give United a 2-1 victory, keeping the 20-time champions in fourth place. Liverpool, which edged Stoke 1-0 at the weekend, came from behind to beat 10-man Leicester 3-1. After an own goal by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Adam Lallana equalized before Gerrard and Jordan Henderson clinched Liverpools second successive win in the second half. Liverpool, though, remains five points from fourth-place United in eighth. West Ham stays fifth after fighting back to edge West Brom 2-1, and Swansea is a place behind after beating Queens Park Rangers 2-0. QPR is only being kept off the bottom by Leicester, while Burnley provisionally climbed out of the relegation zone by drawing 1-1 with Newcastle. Aston Villa claimed its first league victory since September by winning 1-0 at Crystal Palace, with Christian Benteke scoring his first goal in nine months. The attention returns to the title race on Wednesday when leader Chelsea hosts Tottenham, second-place Manchester City plays at Sunderland and third-place Southampton is at Arsenal. But Manchester United, by keeping up its resurgent form, is showing it deserves a place back among the elite. Without the injured Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria, United lacked creativity at Old Trafford. But Fellaini met Ander Herreras cross with a towering header to put the hosts in front in the 21st minute. Steven Nzonzi equalized in the 39th for Stoke with a powerful shot from the edge of the area, but Uniteds lead was restored 20 minutes later from Matas inswinging free kick. United needed a superb save from goalkeeper David de Gea and a goal-line clearance from Ashley Young in the final two minutes of stoppage time to preserve the victory. I was not pleased with the first half, United manager Louis van Gaal said. In the second half we played much better, kept the positions. Liverpool entered the game at Leicester with uncertainty hanging over Gerrards future after the 34-year-old midfielder was dropped from Saturdays lineup, and with a new contract yet to be signed for next season. Gerrard showed his enduring value to the team by powering in Liverpools decisive second goal in the 54th minute, but remained coy about his future. Ill decide when Im ready, the former England captain said. Theres nothing to say on the contract at the moment. Liverpools fightback ensured the team provisionally rose to eighth - far from matching last seasons runners-up finish. Liverpool fell behind in the 22nd when Leonardo Ulloas shot hit the post and rebounded into the net off goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. But Adam Lallana levelled four minutes later and - after Gerrards goal - Leicester had Wes Morgan sent off for dragging down Rickie Lambert. With a man advantage, Jordan Henderson completed Liverpools victory in the 83rd. Nike Blazer Shoes For Sale .com) - The Los Angeles Kings peppered Ryan Miller with shot after shot. Wholesale Nike Blazer . New York then missed its next six shots and scored only two points the rest of the night. The Los Angeles Clippers defence and the Knicks general ineptitude both played a role in the unsurprising finish to a meeting of two teams headed in opposite directions. http://www.wholesalenikeblazer.com/ . Theres little time for rest, too. The Flyers and Rangers play again Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Simmonds scored in the first period and twice more in the second for his first career post-season hat trick. Mason survived a busy first period and stopping 31 straight shots until Carl Hagelin scored late in the third. Nike Blzer Cheap . As deep as their roster is, they need their superstar. Rose scored 23 points in his return from a five-game absence due to back pain, and Chicago hung on to beat the struggling Atlanta Hawks 90-79 on Monday. Nike Blazer Clearance . Donald Young lost in straight sets to Israels Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-0. Querrey, ranked No. 61, is the second-highest ranked American, ahead of Johnson (64). RICHMOND, Va. -- Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden says DeAngelo Hall is "just a little sore" with a bruised back after an awkward landing during training camp practice. The three-time Pro Bowl cornerback somersaulted and landed on his back while defending Andre Roberts in a one-on-one drill Sunday. Hall was carted off the field. Gruden said Hall was "walking around a little bit better, just a little sore.dddddddddddd" The coach said he doesnt expect Hall to be sidelined for long. Gruden said the decision to put Hall on the cart made the scene more dramatic than need be. Said the coach: "He could have walked off. It would have made it a lot easier on me." ' ' '