Premier League, St James' Park - Newcastle 0 Manchester United 3 (Evans 8, Evra 16, Cleverley 70).
Manchester United speared Newcastle United with two goals in the opening 15 minutes on their way to a comfortable 3-0 win at St James' Park that carries them second top of the Premier League.
The visiting side put the memory of last week's 3-2 home loss to Tottenham firmly to one side when Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans rose highest in a crowded box to power home a header from Robin van Persie's delicious corner on eight minutes.
The home side's struggles continued at corners when they shipped a second goal on 15 minutes. This time Patrice Evra was on hand to meet the outstanding Wayne Rooney's delivery in a goal of some simplicity with Newcastle marking fresh air.
Alan Pardew's team continued to toil for large swathes of the match and hopes of a comeback finally faded when Tom Cleverley tried to pick out Van Persie with a cross on 71 minutes only to see the ball sail over his United companion and the home goalkeeper Steve Harper from 30 yards out.
Both of Cleverley’s goals for United have come against Newcastle. He also netted against Newcastle in Manchester United’s 2-1 win at home in the League Cup last week.
The England player looked surprised as he celebrated, but there were few surprises about the result with Sir Alex Ferguson's team running out convincing winners on a gloriously autumnal day in Newcastle.
The home team will point to the moment Papiss Cisse headed towards a gaping net after Demba Ba beat an unconvincing visiting goalkeeper David de Gea in the air to hit the bar on 51 minutes.
Television replays showed the ball was not over the line when De Gea threw a hand at the ball to scoop it away with the whole ball not over the line in another of those tiresome goal technology discussing moments.
United move above champions Manchester City on goal difference with 15 points from seven matches. They are only four points adrift of leaders Chelsea as they head for the international break after a fifth win in seven league games.
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches that followed a Champions League tie. Ferguson will be happy with their week's work after the 2-1 midweek win at CFR Cluj in Europe.
United could have been out of sight before Cleverley added the third with 20 minutes or so left.
Danny Welbeck should have netted when he stubbed the ball at goal from an Evans backheel on five minutes while Harper was forced to save from Van Persie after he had bounded beyond Michael Williamson seconds before the opening goal.
Harper was then desperately fortunate not to present Welbeck with a second goal when he somehow allowed the forward to rob him of the ball, but Welbeck's shot evaded the goal when he seemed likely to score.
Newcastle could have had a penalty when Evra seemed to tug the shirt of Cisse inside the box while Van Persie was fortunate not to avoid collecting a second yellow card after appearing to catch Yohan Cabaye in the face with his arm in the closing moments.
Elsewhere, Ba headed wide and knocked a shot over in the first half, but Newcastle finished a distant second on the day having paid the price for a sluggish start.
The only real point of concern for Alex Ferguson was the indifferent form of De Gea, whose failure to collect high balls was a generally concerning theme for the visitors.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Wayne Rooney - worked tremendously hard to cover ground and played provider in sending over the corner that enabled Patrice Evra to score the second goal.
Premier League, Anfield - Liverpool 0 Stoke 0.
Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Stoke at Anfield in a bruising Premier League encounter.
The Reds have won just two league games at Anfield in 2012 and the reasons were there for all to see, with a distinct lack of cutting edge despite dominating possession, especially in the second half.
Stoke made things difficult with some heavy challenges and barely emerged from their half in the second period, but Liverpool were unable to find the form in front of goal they displayed against Norwich last weekend.
Liverpool made eight changes from the midweek Europa League defeat to Udinese, reverting to the side that won 5-2 at Carrow Road with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez coming back in.
Stoke also kept faith with the 11 men who won in the Premier League a week ago in their 2-0 home victory over Swansea.
The match was fraught from the off, with Stoke applying pressure to the Reds' passing game high up the pitch.
As early as the third minute a loose back pass from Nuri Sahin put former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam in, with Pepe Reina making a sharp save with his legs.
Moments later Suarez was livid after Stoke centre-half Robert Huth clearly stamped on him following an aerial challenge but escaped without punishment. He exacted revenge shortly afterwards, also avoiding a booking despite clumping into the German late.
Liverpool were again exposed on 20 minutes when a risky pass out from Reina allowed Michael Kightly to lift a chip over him, but the agile Spain keeper flew back to tip over.
Time and again Brendan Rodgers's men insisted on playing the ball out from the back, but they were continually cut short by late challenges from an over-zealous Stoke.
Huth somehow avoided a booking again after a rugby-style tackle on Suarez but eventually followed Kightly into the referee's notebook for upending the Uruguayan striker as he raced away on the counter.
Gerrard saw a 'Hollywood' strike tipped wide of the near post by Asmir Begovic while Daniel Agger almost poked home a Suso dink into the box. That was as good as it got for the Reds in the first half, while Suarez was accused of kicking out after Begovic got to the ball first moments before the whistle. He seemed to be going for the ball.
The pressure on the Stoke goal at the Kop end was relentless from the restart. A superb sliding challenge from Ryan Shawcross denied a Gerrard pull-back after he exchanged passes with Suarez to attack the byline.
Glen Johnson, operating at left-back, was picked out by a pinpoint Gerrard diagonal ball but shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy, then Begovic slid out to kick clear another low ball into the danger area from deep from the home skipper.
Suarez produced the most exciting moment of the match on the hour mark as he accelerated from halfway and panicked several Stoke defenders with his mazy dribbling before slicing wide of the near post from inside the box.
After teenager Raheem Sterling placed a side-footed finish against the outside of the post when it was begging to be cracked across goal, Suarez also fired against the outside of the post - but the home fans never seemed convinced that their men would produce the goal they craved.
And when Martin Skrtel could only flick a Gerrard free kick across goal with Shawcross grounded, the goalless draw was all but confirmed.
Shawcross, former Liverpool midfielder Adam, Jonathan Walters and Dean Whitehead would all also be shown yellow cards before the end in a solid - if not particularly admirable - rearguard effort from Tony Pulis's men.
Meanwhile Suarez did not cover himself in glory with a pathetic dive in the box after minimal contact from Marc Wilson.
Liverpool are 14th in the table, two places below Stoke.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City) – A giant throughout and despite the booking didn't resort to some of the more unsavoury tactics employed by Stoke.
Premier League, Upton Park – West Ham United 1 (Diame 21) Arsenal 3 (Giroud 41, Walcott 77, Cazorla 83).
Arsenal came from a goal behind to beat West Ham United 3-1 at Upton Park and move up to fifth place in the Premier League.
The Gunners dominated in possession, but Sam Allardyce's side fashioned the better early chances and went in front courtesy of a 21st-minute stunner from Mohamed Diame.
But Olivier Giroud's first Premier League goal levelled things just before the break, and in the second half a strike from substitute Theo Walcott and a rasping goal from Santi Cazorla swung the game their way.
Andy Carroll returned to the starting line-up for West Ham after 20 minutes as a substitute in the Hammers’ victory at QPR, while Per Mertesacker came back for Arsenal, displacing Laurent Koscielny. Up front, Giroud started as the target man, flanked by Lukas Podolski and Gervinho, who have both operated in that role this season.
Arsenal began the stronger, passing the ball around with trademark style and verve, and enjoying over two-thirds of the possession. Giroud called Jussi Jaaskelainen into action early, with Hammers goalkeeper having to tip an early effort from the edge of the area around the post.
But the home side struck first with a flowing move capped off by Diame. It began with Guy Demel controlling an Arsenal cross and knocking the ball forward, and ended when the Senegalese midfielder cut past Aaron Ramsey into the penalty area and curled the ball around Vito Mannone.
Carroll was also a menace for the Hammers, seemingly first to every high ball, and he could have doubled the lead with a header just after the half-hour mark which Mannone grabbed.
The Gunners took their time to rebound from conceding, but made sure they went in all square at the break after Podolski whipped in a devilish low cross from the left that Giroud volleyed home from close range. It meant that the France striker broke his Premier League duck after five hours and six minutes of play in some style.
Kevin Nolan spurned several chances for the home side, including one on the stroke of half time as Carroll nodded down into his path, and from point-blank range he steered the ball beyond the far post.
The game drifted early in the second half, with Arsenal again in charge of possession without converting it into a raft of chances. There were injury worries for both sides - Kieran Gibbs went off with a thigh problem for the visitors, while Ricardo Vaz Te appeared to dislocate his shoulder after a clash with Mannone.
But the introduction of Walcott for Gervinho woke the game up.
The England winger almost played Giroud in for a second with a backheel after 65 minutes, only for Carroll to glance a header wide at the other end moments later with Mannone beaten.
Nolan and Podolski swapped chances as the game opened up, before Walcott put Arsenal in front with 13 minutes to play. Giroud turned provider on the counter-attack, weighting the through ball perfectly, and Walcott showed great composure and accuracy to place a finish beyond Jaaskelainen on his near post.
Nolan had yet another decent chance to level just two minutes later, but lifted it high over the bar, before a moment of magic from Cazorla settled things.
The Spaniard crashed a shot across goal from 25 yards with just seven minutes remaining, reducing Jaaskelainen to a standstill as the ball found the corner.
Taylor tested out Mannone late on with a dipping effort of his own, while Giroud might have capped his performance off with a second goal had he clipped Cazorla’s delicate through ball over Jaaskelainen rather than over him.
But it was nonetheless a victory of substance for Arsenal – this was the sort of fixture they have lost all too easily in recent seasons, but again they came back from a tricky position in the match to record an encouraging win.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) – Scored the equaliser, set up the winner, and put in a performance worthy of Arsene Wenger’s summer investment in him.
Premier League, Stamford Bridge – Chelsea 4 (Torres 14, Lampard 22, Hazard 31, Ivanovic 76) Norwich 1 (Holt 11).
Chelsea cemented top spot in the Premier League with an attacking masterclass, romping to a 4-1 win over Norwich at Stamford Bridge.
Grant Holt gave struggling Norwich an early lead against the run of play after 11 minutes, but Fernando Torres levelled three minutes later, before Frank Lampard and Eden Hazard scored delightful goals to put the Blues comfortably ahead after half an hour.
In the second half it might easily have been a rout as Oscar, Juan Mata and Hazard took centre-stage, but in the end Chelsea managed only one more, a sumptuous volley from Branislav Ivanovic 76 minutes in.
The Blues will finish the weekend four points clear at the top of the table, while Norwich remain stranded near the foot of the league.
Roberto di Matteo’s decision to include both Ashley Cole and John Terry stole the headlines, but it was his attacking combination which had more of an impact on the match.
With the unbeaten league leaders hosting the winless Canaries, only one result looked likely, but Holt’s early strike gave the Blues an early scare.
It was a well-worked move – Wes Hoolahan running unchecked before picking out Sebastian Bassong in the box, who nodded down for Holt to rifle past Petr Cech.
But the lead was short-lived. Torres, who had spurned an early chance with hesitancy after being played in over the top, got on the end of a cross from Ivanovic and glanced past John Ruddy to level.
Chelsea kept attacking, and the second came after Torres attempted an overhead kick. It was blocked – but straight into the path of Lampard, whose finish was clinical.
The Blues were not watertight at the back and Norwich did have their chances – Alexander Tettey had got into a great position up front only to completely misjudge his header.
But it left them exposed to the counter-attack, and they were undone for the third by a superb break led by Mata. The Spaniard went most of the length of the field laying on a deft through ball for Hazard, who knocked it first-time into the corner.
The chances rained down during the second half – Holt, along with Hoolahan the bright spots in a tame display for Norwich, nodded just wide at the far post for the visitors before Chelsea resumed normal service.
There were at least two clear penalty chances that the Blues were denied – Hazard was bodychecked by Leon Barnett chasing a lost cause of a ball, while Terry’s shirt was clearly pulled by Martin when he tried to head in at the far post late on.
Meanwhile Oscar tested Ruddy out from distance, Mata almost rounded off a flowing team move with a finish past the Norwich keeper, while Torres came close on a number of occasions.
Despite the combination of attacking talent, Chelsea’s only goal of the half came from a defender.
Oscar put in the cross from the left-hand side, Mata flicked it back in towards the middle, and Ivanovic with all the poise of a striker crashed the ball in at the near post.
Ivanovic may be a right-back, but with six Premier League goals in 2012, he has only been outscored by Fernando Torres (eight) and Frank Lampard (seven) for the Blues this year.
Norwich avoided further damage on the scoresheet, but with their next Premier League fixture pitting them against Arsenal, Chris Hughton's task of getting a first Premier League win with the Canaries looks a tricky one.
For Chelsea, who were able to give a late Premier League debut to Cesar Azpilicueta and a first top flight appearance of the season for Oriol Romeu, the team look in great shape, despite the notable off-field distractions, going into the international break.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Juan Mata (Chelsea) – To stand out in an attacking midfield boasting Oscar and Hazard says something about the calibre of Mata’s performance.
Premier League, Etihad Stadium – Manchester City 3 (Kolarov 5, Aguero 60, Milner 89) Sunderland 0.
Manchester City got back to winning ways in the Premier League with a commanding 3-0 win over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.
Aleksandr Kolarov’s vicious free kick got the champions off to the perfect start five minutes in, and though they spurned a raft of chances, substitute Sergio Aguero did eventually double the lead on the hour.
It could easily have been a landslide win for the home side, who made it 30 victories in their last 33 home games in the Premier League with the result, but in the end they managed only one more, with Milner’s 89th minute free kick going straight through Mignolet.
City move up provisionally to second after the win, and extend their unbeaten start to the season to seven games with perhaps their most convincing display of the season so far.
Roberto Mancini rang the changes – seven of them from their midweek Champions League match – but most surprising of them was the absence of captain Vincent Kompany.
Mancini subsequently confirmed the Belgium defender was suffering an injury, handing a first start of the season to Micah Richards in partnership with Joleon Lescott.
The nerves were quickly settled as by City racing into an early lead.
Carlos Cuellar, fit from injury and the only Sunderland change to the side which had beaten Wigan last weekend, marked his return with a dreadful sliding tackle on Carlos Tevez.
Kolarov and Mario Balotelli debated who should take the set piece from the left – the Serbian won that battle, then dispatched it left-footed past Simon Mignolet at the near post.
Sunderland, who claimed four points out of six against the champions in the corresponding fixture last year, responded well enough, with Stephane Sessegnon going closest with a half-chance on the volley.
But City’s class told, and as the half wore on they went close on several occasions.
Pablo Zabaleta pounced on a loose ball 20 minutes in, only to see his shot smothered by Mignolet, while Tevez dragged the rebound wide.
Balotelli, victim of some nasty challenges from Craig Gardner, almost turned in a low centre from the right-hand side half an hour in, while Adam Johnson, making his first appearance against his former club, very nearly played in former team-mate Tevez with a terrible crossfield pass.
Sunderland rode out the storm and made it to half time without sustaining further damage.
But despite a spirited start to the second half, with Stephen Fletcher seeing a well-struck volley blocked, it was City who set the pace.
Richards was on the end of every set piece – that he did not end up on the scoresheet owed everything to some desperate goal-line defending from Danny Rose and some sharp saves from Mignolet.
Balotelli had another gilt-edged chance too, but could not get a touch on Kolarov’s low centre just before he made way for Aguero.
Five minutes after his arrival, the Argentine notched his 25th Premier League goal, Kolarov again the provider, with a first-time shot at the near post.
Tevez had further chances, as did the effervescent Kolarov, while David Silva struck the woodwork with Mignolet out of position.
Milner did eventually manage the third, though Mignolet, who had otherwise had a good game, let himself down with the free kick from a narrow angle.
Mancini had insisted in midweek that he knew how to solve City’s problems after a slow start to the season – and on this showing, the Italian was right.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Aleksandr Kolarov (Manchester City) – With not too much to do in defence, Kolarov was given freedom on the wing. Scoring one and setting up another, he was a handful for Sunderland.
Premier League, Emirates Stadium – Arsenal 1 (Gervinho 42) Chelsea 2 (Torres 20, Mata 53).
Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1 at Emirates Stadium to stay top of the Premier League and maintain their unbeaten start to the domestic season.
John Terry's every touch was booed enthusiastically by the home fans in light of his impending four-match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, but he ended up on top as Chelsea won a lively London derby.
Goals from Fernando Torres and Juan Mata did the damage, although Arsenal gave them a hand as their inability to defend set pieces was exposed for a second weekend running.
Gervinho was on target for the Gunners, who had lengthy spells of possession but were unable to create enough chances as Petr Cech only made two saves of note all match, although substitute Olivier Giroud hit the woodwork before putting a good opportunity wide in injury time.
It was Arsenal’s first defeat of the campaign, while their Chelsea hoodoo continues: the Blues are the first team to beat Arsene Wenger’s side three times in a row in the Premier League at the Emirates.
A frantic first half finished even as both sides attacked with vigour, Chelsea getting the better of the opening exchanges as Torres netted his 75th career Premier League goal at the expense of Laurent Koscielny and co.
Last weekend the Gunners’ zonal marking was criticised as they conceded to Manchester City at a set-piece, but their failure to attack the ball was at fault then as it was now, although their man-marking was exposed this time.
A superbly weighted Mata free-kick saw Koscielny fail in his task as a man-marker, allowing Torres to hook a leg around his torso and flick an improvised finish past Vito Mannone.
It was not all Koscielny’s fault as the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – who had just entered play following another injury to poor Abou Diaby – allowed David Luiz and John Terry the freedom of the box before Torres’s intervention.
While a lapse in organisation was at play, it was a deserved goal in the sense that Chelsea - with three attacking midfielders - had pressed and harried Arsenal from the off, their style of chasing and clever passing echoing that of Barcelona.
Chelsea should have gone 2-0 up when Koscielny fluffed his lines under pressure from Torres, who went clean through but – in electing to round Mannone instead of finish directly – fell over under pressure from the chasing centre-back.
The Spaniard wanted a penalty but the minimal contact was a result of his swinging boot catching Koscielny’s as opposed to any intent on the defender’s part.
The hosts responded well, using overlapping full-backs Keiran Gibbs and the excellent Carl Jenkinson to great effect as they launched waves of attacks.
Gervinho, leading the line as Giroud watched on, should have done better with a far-post header from Lukas Podolski’s driven cross, the Ivorian’s effort across goal well-fielded by Terry.
Chelsea were dangerous on the break, Torres just offside as he finished from a sweet Mata through ball, but Arsenal’s equaliser was always on the cards.
Jenkinson, who has taken to his attacking right-back role with gusto and surprise given his shaky displays last season, was involved in much of Arsenal’s forward play and it was one of his runs that saw Oxlade-Chamberlain released down the right.
His low ball picked out Gervinho, who turned before firing an unstoppable effort into the top right, a finish out of keeping with the Ivorian’s oft-disappointing end product.
There was still time for Torres to find the side netting after a counter attack that marked Chelsea’s increased tendency to sit deeper into half-time.
The second half continued with the pattern of Arsenal possession and Chelsea counters, with the visitors more effective than the hosts, whose afternoon was typified by Cazorla’s wild finish from a good spot, one of many poor shots from the talented Spaniard.
Chelsea were soon back in front as Mata again showed his quality with the dead ball, this time swinging it beyond everyone bar the lunging Koscielny, who got a touch as it flew past Mannone to the bottom left. The ball was on target so Mata was credited with the goal, but ball-watching Arsenal again should have dealt with it.
Arsenal responded with possession-driven attacks but it was worth nothing that Cech made his first proper save just before the hour mark, tipping a Lukas Podolski header over.
Jenkinson and Gibbs were leading the charge at will but, despite some dangerous crosses, Arsenal were second to the ball in the vital areas.
Giroud and Theo Walcott were brought into the fold but the former, for all his undoubted effort, looks short of the quality required to be a main striker at this level.
He inadvertently came close to a leveller when his low shot took a huge deflection off David Luiz, but Cech palmed it wide for a corner, while a flicked header from a corner touched the woodwork, although a flag went up in the melee.
Chelsea had men behind the ball but still countered with intent, sub Victor Moses close to a spectacular half-volleyed goal that dipped just over.
Arsenal were throwing everything at the Blues, who tried to run it into the corner at every opportunity, although the hosts still carved out enough chances to grab a point. Cazorla smacked one high and wide when he should have at least made Cech work, while in stoppage time Giroud showed poor composure when put through by the aforementioned Spain midfielder, taking an extra touch wide before hammering his finish into the side netting.
Chelsea’s win – their first in 33 against Arsenal without Didier Drogba in the team – cements their claim to being the form side in England, while Arsenal must look to bounce back from disappointment, an inability to do so having marked recent seasons.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Juan Mata (Chelsea) – His dead-ball delivery is second-to-none and the Spaniard was on song today, creating the first and scoring the second as he exploited Arsenal’s hesitancy at set pieces.
Premier League, Craven Cottage – Fulham 1 (Petric 10, pen) Manchester City 2 (Aguero 43, Dzeko 87).
Edin Dzeko scored with his first touch off the bench as Manchester City came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage in the Premier League.
Dzeko, seconds after coming on, fired into the top right after an error from John Arne Riise, giving City the win when it looked like Fulham had done enough to earn a point.
Mladen Petric had given Martin Jol’s side an early lead from the spot after Pablo Zabaleta pulled back Riise in the box, with Sergio Aguero levelling just before half-time.
The win keeps City four points off leaders Chelsea, while Fulham – without injured star Dimitar Berbatov – are on nine points from their opening six games.
Fulham started brightly as a somewhat sluggish-looking City became accustomed to their surroundings, and the Whites exploited the moment by taking an early lead.
The champions’ defending has been suspect this season, and Pablo Zabaleta was hapless in his efforts to halt the run of John Arne Riise, who skipped past the Argentine far too easily before being taken down by a desperate tug.
The incident occurred on the fringes of the penalty area, with contact just inside, as Mark Halsey pointed to the spot: Petric made no mistake with a fierce penalty, sending Joe Hart one way and the finish the other.
Incredibly they could have doubled that lead soon afterwards when, on the quarter-hour, Petric thrashed his shot wide after fine build-up play from Hugo Rodallega and Steve Sidwell.
City seemed to wake from their slumber and, predictably, dominated the rest of the half as David Silva and Yaya Toure dominated the midfield in contrasting fashion.
Brede Hangeland cleared off the line when Zabaleta’s low cross looked set for a Toure tap-in, while Aguero should have done better with a free far-post header that he put wide.
Carlos Tevez tried in vain to claim a penalty when tumbling past Riise, although replays showed he made the most of it, while Whites goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer clawed the ball off the line after a goalmouth scramble saw Tevez and Aaron Hughes slide in together.
The big Australian made a smart double save from Silva and Aguero as City continued to bombard the home area, but he was powerless to prevent the equaliser on 43 minutes.
Schwarzer had already made one great save to palm away Silva’s first-time finish, which was a diversion of a Zabaleta cross-shot into the box: the keeper prostrate from his heroics, he could only watch as Aguero drove home the loose ball from a tight angle for a deserved leveller.
Half-time could not come quick enough for Fulham, who had their backs against the walls for the latter stages of the half.
They were better in the second period which, while largely controlled by City, was a more even affair, if relatively light on chances.
Indeed, both sides had just one noteworthy opportunity apiece in the third ‘quarter’, Brede Hangeland and Aguero both heading wide after good balls from Bryan Ruiz and Zabaleta respectively.
Aware that the match was in danger of drifting into a bore-fest, Roberto Mancini acted by introducing the volatile but inquisitive Mario Balotelli, who immediately launched a long-range effort past the post.
Most of City’s good work went through Silva, whose running and movement with the ball was exceptional, although he was unable to pick out a final ball of note.
Fulham, meanwhile, were not exactly passengers, the introduction of Swedish winger Alexander Kacaniklic injecting some flair to proceedings and carving out a chance for Ruiz, whose fine drive was batted away by Hart.
The last quarter-hour saw Samir Nasri enter the fray as the well-organised home defence and midfield constantly shut the door on City’s forays into the final third.
It was testament to work-rate and determination by the hosts, with veteran Greece midfielder Giorgos Karagounis brought on to shore things up further as City grew frustrated.
His first act was to give away a free-kick, which Balotelli spanked into the wall, signalling a last throw the dice for Roberto Mancini, with the introduction of Dzeko.
It threw up a six as, with his first touch, the Bosnian latched on to a dreadful defensive header from Riise to smash a vicious finish into the top right.
Schwarzer was right to be furious, his team’s good work undone by the sloppiest of errors. City could have added a third as Fulham left gaping holes while chasing an equaliser, the best chance falling to Silva, who fired just over from the edge of the box.
MAN OF THE MATCH
David Silva (Manchester City) – a livewire behind the strikers, his dribbling and poise was the standout in an otherwise tired-looking City performance.
Premier League, Carrow Road - Norwich 2 (Morison 61, Holt 87 ) Liverpool 5 (Suarez 2, 38, 57, Sahin 47, Gerrard 68).
Luis Suarez scored a classy hat-trick to help Liverpool complete their first Premier League win of the season with a 5-2 drubbing of a mediocre Norwich at Carrow Road.
Nuri Sahin - fresh from his double in the 2-1 League Cup win at West Bromwich Albion - and Steven Gerrard netted the other Liverpool goals in the second period with Steve Morison and substitute Grant Holt responding for the home side, who were probably lucky to get out of the afternoon losing by only three goals.
Suarez also scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win for Liverpool at Norwich in April. Incidentally, it was also the last time they enjoyed a clean sheet.
Norwich have now won just one of their past 11 Premier League matches, and have only three points from their opening six games of the season.
Suso, Raheem Sterling and Andre Wisdom all started for Liverpool at Carrow Road, and all coped handsomely with the occasion.
There was just over a minute on the clock when Brendan Rodgers's side moved ahead as Suarez collected a loose ball to fire a low shot beyond the despairing dive of John Ruddy in the Norwich goal.
Jose Reina was forced to keep out an effort from Simeon Jackson with the aid of a post, but Norwich's meaningful surges forward would be few and far between as Liverpool revelled in possession.
The Uruguayan forward Suarez should have had a penalty when he was clearly bundled to the deck from behind by Leon Barnett on 23 minutes, but referee Mike Jones astonishingly decided otherwise.
It was a poor decision by Jones, but not as peculiar as that of home central defender Michael Turner seven minutes before the break.
Turner needlessly lost possession on the edge of his box. Suarez turned him inside out before sticking the ball into the corner of the net with the outside of his right foot.
Liverpool could and probably should have had more goals in the first half with Suarez playing provider with a deft ball that saw Steven Gerrard's header clawed out by Ruddy.
Suarez was also sent speeding clear by Daniel Agger moments before his second, but he planted the ball wide when he looked likelier to find the net.
Norwich almost found themselves within a goal of the visitors on 46 minutes when Robert Snodgrass saw the ball fly off him and over from Andrew Surman's shot, but there was never any real threat of a recovery.
Suarez played in Sahin for the third goal from close range on 47 minutes before he bent the ball past Ruddy from 22 yards for his third and Liverpool's fourth on 57 minutes.
Norwich had netted their first of the afternoon to trail 4-1 on 61 minutes when Jose Reina failed to halt a Russell Martin effort before Morison forced home the rebound.
Gerrard saw an effort deflect off the hapless Barnett and fly beyond the wrong-footed Ruddy on 68 minutes for a 5-1 lead after some nice play by Sterling.
Holt - who had replaced Jackson at half-time - completed the scoring for the day when he benefited from some slipshod defending by Martin Skrtel before bounding up the park to sweep the ball low into the corner of a net on 87 minutes, but a fair smattering of Norwich fans had already seen enough.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Luis Suarez (Liverpool) - Simply a joy to watch with his movement too much for Norwich's defence. Scored three, set up another and should have had a penalty. Probably wishes he could play at Carrow Road every week.
Premier League, Old Trafford – Manchester United 2 (Nani 51, Kagawa 53) Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Vertonghen 2, Bale 32, Dempsey 52).
Tottenham Hotspur held on to a thrilling 3-2 win at Manchester United, their first league victory at Old Trafford since 1989.
First-half goals from Jan Vertonghen and a Gareth Bale stunner gave Spurs a two-goal advantage at half-time, but United came out for the second period looking a different team.
Three goals marked a kamikaze three-minute period as Nani pulled one back for the hosts before Clint Dempsey and Shinji Kagawa traded blows for both sides.
United launched a late assault on the Spurs goal but a combination of backs-to-the-wall defending and weak finishing saw Andre Vilas-Boas’s side ride the match out to claim a scalp that could have great implications for the Portuguese’s nascent career in North London.
Despite boasting an enviable winning record over Spurs, the hosts were strangely subdued from the start and the visitors soon made them pay.
Vertonghen, getting forward from left-back, clumsily cut inside, and though he did not have the ball under greast control he was barely resisted by a stand-offish defence. His finish was not great either but it took a massive deflection off a sliding Jonny Evans, wrong-footing Anders Lindegaard to nestle in the bottom left.
Ordinarily such an early blow would spark United into action but they continued to look sluggish, the lively Dempsey firing just wide after good play from former Fulham team-mate Moussa Dembele. Aaron Lennon was also a threat, shooting just wide via a deflection from Rio Ferdinand.
Spurs were winning the midfield battle, although United were barely putting up a fight as Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick struggled to get on the ball.
Lone striker Robin Van Persie, meanwhile, was isolated up front from the start and barely in the game from the moment he was left hobbling by a crunching but fair William Gallas tackle.
Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck looked on from the bench and their concern was shared by Sir Alex Ferguson when Spurs doubled their lead in style.
Nothing should be taken away from Bale, who has scored similar goals against feted opposition in the past – most notably Internazionale – but he was allowed to run from halfway far too easily, with Ferdinand losing a five-yard head start as the Welshman fired across Lindegaard with his weaker right foot.
United were two down, at home, after just over half an hour, a status which appeared to finally spark them into action.
But for all their possession after Bale’s strike, Spurs only suffered one scare before half-time when Nani had his shirt pulled by Vertonghen in the box, an act missed by the referee.
No doubt spurred on by a blow-dry at Fergie’s barbershop, United were an entirely different proposition in the second half as they went for the jugular from the restart.
Rooney had come on for the ineffectual Ryan Giggs, while Scholes was spreading the ball and dictating the play as only he and Xavi can.
He started the move from which United pulled one back, allowing Rooney to play an inviting low cross that a late-arriving Nani prodded home, the Portugal winger acquitting himself well after press reports he had fought with a team-mate in training.
That sparked one of the more tumultuous 150 seconds in Premier League history as Spurs re-established a two-goal lead, United half-asleep at the back as Sandro fed Bale, whose shot was well-saved by Lindegaard only for an unchecked Dempsey to roll the ball into the net.
United responded immediately as, within seconds, it was back to 3-2 thanks to a fine ball from the otherwise disappointing Van Persie, Kagawa turning on a sixpence before sliding a cool finish in off the post.
With around 40 minutes left including stoppage time, United sensed one of their classic comebacks. But – for all their possession, for all Scholes’ wonderful crossfield passing, and for all the clever movement from Rooney, Kagawa and Nani – United could not break Spurs’ resolve.
They entertained in their attempts to do so. Rooney hit the post with a superb free-kick and wasted a few half-chances; Van Persie found the back of the net but was offside, also putting wide twice from good positions; in addition to his passing, Scholes forced a smart stop from Friedel with a piledriver from range; Carrick flicked a header against the frame of the goal; Patrice Evra headed straight at Friedel with a free-header.
United had several late penalty claims rejected, with Sandro accidentally handling in the box their best shout, while Kyle Walker seemed to get the ball when sliding in on Kagawa.
But they could not make a breakthrough and, despite the introductions of Welbeck and Javier Hernandez, Spurs were able to hold on for a triumph that was greeted with delight on the bench and with the travelling fans.
Ferguson’s side now lie third in the league, four points off leaders Chelsea and one shy of Everton, with Spurs a point behind in fifth.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham) – Got the ball rolling with an early goal and impressed both in attack and defence from left-back. A strong part of Spurs’ late resistance.
Premier League, Etihad Stadium - Manchester City 1 (Lescott 40) Arsenal 1 (Koscielny 82).
Laurent Koscielny struck with eight minutes remaining as Manchester City and Arsenal drew 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.
Arsenal impressed for much of the first half, but Joleon Lescott’s header turned the game the way of the hosts, and gave them the advantage at half time.
City had chances to put the game beyond the match in the sort of encounter Arsenal have often lost in recent seasons, but the Gunners held on and found their equaliser through Koscielny's clinical shot following a corner late on.
Both sides preserve their unbeaten starts to the season, with identical records of two wins and three draws, but Arsenal remain in front of City in fifth place by virtue of goal difference.
Koscielny, not a first choice this season for the Gunners, only started the match because Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen had been laid low by flu in the build-up to the match.
City, meanwhile, left both Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli on the substitutes' bench, with Roberto Mancini pairing Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko up front.
Arsenal made a very solid start, passing the ball around with confidence and class, even if chances were thin on the ground.
The first real test for either goalkeeper came when Aguero fired a snap shot from the edge of the area - Vito Mannone, standing in for the injured Wojciech Szczesny, could only parry it.
Two minutes later Gervinho had the first of several chances for the Gunners, played through by a weighted pass from Aaron Ramsey, only for a clunky touch to deny him so much as a shot on goal.
Lukas Podolski should also have done better when Carl Jenkinson robbed Lescott on the wing, drove to the byline and cut back, only for the German to sky his shot.
Santi Cazorla also did a great job playing Gervinho in, as did Ramsey once more, but the Ivorian got no closer than the side netting.
And Manchester City, who came into the match on the back of a 31-match unbeaten streak at home, took their chance when they got upfield.
Mannone came out to gather David Silva’s corner with no conviction, and nobody was able to prevent Lescott nodding firmly in at the far post.
The lead could have doubled moments later after Dzeko’s first-time shot from range, but this time Mannone managed a crucial fingertip save.
In the second half, the defending Premier League champions looked set to flex their muscles, with Aguero close from a tight angle, then seeing a shout for a penalty turned down with Koscielny beaten.
Gervinho, who got into excellent spaces time and again, continued to spurn half-chances and clear-cut ones alike, flashing wide at the near post with 24 minutes remaining.
But Arsenal did not give up on the game, and Arsene Wenger’s double-change, bringing on Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott for Abu Diaby and Podolski, kept the momentum up.
It might have cost them when City broke with Yaya Toure charging down the middle with 10 minutes remaining, but he held on to the ball a fraction too long and left Aguero to snatch at his shot.
And after Cazorla had tested Hart at the other end with a powerful shot from range, Koscielny was on hand to drill in an equaliser from the resulting corner.
At 1-1 both sides had opportunities to win. Aguero spurned the clearest one after Vincent Kompany had seen a spectacular overhead kick parried by Mannone, firing wide of the far post.
Then, as the game entered stoppage time, Gervinho compounded a frustrating afternoon by blazing through the middle with panache, only to splash the ball high and wide with panic.
Both sides are four points off the league leaders Chelsea in the title race, but it is the visitors who will probably be happier with the character they showed to take something from the match.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) - Even when the Gunners were behind, the accuracy and variety of Cazorla's passing made him the stand-out player on the pitch.
