Chelsea exceptional start to the season continued as they beat Wolves 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. However, Wolves were in good form and had numerous chances but they were punished for their inability to convert chances. Florent Malouda opened the scoring after good play by Zhirkov put the chance on a plate for him to pass the ball into the net. Chelsea confirmed their victory when brilliant interplay was too much for the Wolves backline and Saloman Kalou was on hand to beat Gilks.

Manchester United beat Stoke 2-1 at the Britania in a game they really had to win after Chelsea’s win had left them trailing 8 points behind the leaders. However, it could have been very different if Gary Neville had received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle in the first half. United took the lead when Javier Hernandez did brilliantly to turn the ball in with the back of his head after the ball was knocked back across goal from a corner. Nine minutes from time Tuncay Sanli equalised with a magnificent left foot strike which flew into the corner of the net. But five minutes later United were ahead again again it was Hernandez as he reacted quickest to a loose ball in the Stoke area. Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium. It showed the Arsenal are worthy tiele contenders moving up to second with this win and highlighted that City still have some way to go if they are to win the Premier League. City got off to rotten start when Boyata was given a straight red card after just 5 minutes for bringing down Chamakh when he was the last man. The away side took the lead through Samir Nasri who played a one-two with Arshavin before passing the ball past Hart. Arsenal were awarded a penalty when Knompany brought down Fabregas, but the Spaniard saw his penalty well saved by Joe Hart. Arsenal did double their lead and it came thanks to Alex Song who blasted the ball in after it fell loose in the City penalty area. The points were sealed when Nasri fed in Nicolas Bendtner who made no mistake passing the ball into the far corner.

Liverpool claimed only their second victory of the season as they overcame Blackburn 2-1 at Anfield. Liverpool remained in the bottom 3 with this win but Torres ended his goal shortage which will be pleasing for Liverpool fans. Sotirios Kyrgiakos gave Liverpool the lead shortly after the re-start when his header was deflected in by the head of Olsson. But Blackburn pulled level when Konchesky’s clearance cannoned off Jamie Carragher and found its way into the net. Liverpool did re-establish their lead and it came thanks to Fernando Torres who ended his goal drought by guiding in Cole’s cross.

Spurs and Everton played out a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane. Everton will be pleased to come away with a point and continue their upturn in form since their nightmare start to the season. The away side took the lead thanks to a magnificent free kick from Leighton Baines which flew over the wall and into the top corner. However, Spurs levelled 3 minutes later when Howard came for Hutton’s cross and didn’t get allowing Crouch to knock the ball back across goal for an easy tap in for Rafael Van der Vaart.

West Ham continued to flounder as they went down 2-1 at home to Newcastle. It was a win the away side needed to avoid dropping into the lower reaches of the league. The home side made a great start to the game and took the lead on 12 minutes Piquionne’s cross/shot was bundled over the line by Carlton Cole. However, conceding seemed to revitalise Newcastle and they levelled when Carroll’s knock down was guided in by Kevin Nolan. Newcastle took the lead courtesy of Andy Carroll who thundered in a header from Barton’s cross.

Sunderland recorded an overdue win with a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light. It was Villa who had the better of the play and the chances but were unable to score. Sunderland took the lead when Dunne and Collins both went for Steed Malbronque’s cross and the ball ended up going in off Dunne’s leg. Villa came out better second half but were unable to convert their chances.

West Brom’s tremendous start to the season continued as they overcame Fulham 2-1 at the Hawthorns. Fulham were a side missing several key players and it showed as they went down to a good West Brom team. The away side to the lead with a hint of good fortune when Gera’s good strike from long range was well tipped onto the post by Carson before the ball bounced back off the post hitting the West Brom keeper and finding its way into the net. West Brom equalised thanks to Youssouf Mulumbu but it did appear he was offside when he received Brunt’s pass, before sliding the ball beyond Schwartzer. West Brom took the lead when Thomas’s pass was guided into the net by Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Blackpool were unable to pull off another underdog victory as they were defeated 2-0 by Birmingham at St Andrew’s. Birmingham nullified the Blackpool attack brilliantly and took their chances when they came along. The home side took the lead when Liam Ridgewell reacted quickest to head the ball in after Zigic’s header had come back off the bar. Birmngham were gifted a second when a really poor touch from Charlie Adam in his own 6 yard box allowed Nicola Zigic the chance to slide in and convert.

The Lancashire derby between Wigan and Bolton ended in a 1-1 draw; which will satisfy both managers who would have wanted to have avoided defeat in this one. The scoring was opened by Hugo Rodellega who got on the end of Di Santo’s pass before finding the bottom corner, but Di Santo did appear to have been offside when the ball was played to him. However, Bolton levelled when Johan Elmander turned in a loose ball after the Wigan defence had failed to clear.

By Mark Hodgson