Manchester United 2 Blackburn 1
First-half strikes from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Kleberson were enough to send Manchester United back to the top of the Barclaycard Premiership for at least a couple of hours.
Van Nistelrooy, who scored a hat-trick in the Netherlands' 6-0 midweek demolition of Scotland in the Euro 2004 playoffs, lashed home his 12th goal of another productive campaign midway through the opening period before Kleberson finished off a flowing seven-pass move to open his United account seven minutes before the break.
But the cruise to victory over a struggling Blackburn outfit, built on two assists by South African midfielder Quinton Fortune, did not materialise and Brett Emerton's effort just past the hour mark ensured United were fully extended to secure maximum points.
United's win gives them 31 points, one more than Arsenal, who are playing later at Birmingham City, and two clear of Chelsea, who travel to Southampton.