Cristiano Ronaldo [ Images ] scored twice as Manchester United [ Images ] beat Fulham [ Images ] 2-0 at Old Trafford on Monday to climb to second in the Premier League.

Arsenal [ Images ], who won 2-1 at Aston Villa [ Images ] on Saturday, lead with 36 points from 14 matches with a game in hand. United have 33, Chelsea [ Images ] 31 and Liverpool and Manchester City [ Images ] 30.

Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 10th minute, hitting a fine volley into the top far corner from Nemanja Vidic's [ Images ] header. It was his 12th goal of the season and seventh in the league.

The Portugal winger, second to Brazil's [ Images ] Kaka [ Images ] for the Ballon d'Or at the weekend, struck again 13 minutes into the second half, rising above defender Dejan Stefanovic to head substitute John O'Shea's cross past keeper Antti Niemi.