The fourth week of action saw 10 games, 20 goals, 10 in the first half, 10 in the second half, 3 in injury time; 256 attempts, 80 on target and 98 corners; 197 fouls, 34 bookings, 1 red card, 1 penalty scored.
Most scored: At the Stadium of Light (4 goals), by Arsenal (3 goals).
Top creators: Tottenham at White Hart Lane (23 attempts, 7 on target).
Main offenders: Chelsea at Goodison Park and Newcastle at Villa Park (4 bookings each); Crystal Palace with the only sending off of the weekend at Old Trafford (Kagisho Dikgacoi).
Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace:
David Moyes recorded his first win as Manchester United manager thanks to a controversial penalty and sending off against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Ian Holloway was left fuming after Kagisho Dikgacoi was adjudged by referee Jon Moss to have fouled Ashley Young in the box and was sent off. The Eagles were unhappy with the decision arguing the offence had taken place outside the area, but Robin van Persie made no mistake and slotted in the spot-kick to make it 1-0 just before the break. Wayne Rooney doubled the score from a free kick later on in the second half after his former Evertonian team mate Marouane Fellaini was brought on to make his debut for United.
All in all though, despite the score line, the Red Devils were struggling to break down their stubborn visitors, even after they were reduced to ten men. Moyes will be relieved and should feel lucky to have recorded his first three pointer from his opening three games and seen Rooney making a scoring return, especially with former boss Sir Alex Ferguson amongst the crowd and Bayer Leverkusen next on the fixture list in the Champions League.
Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle:
France midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa was scorer and provider for Newcastle to seal their second win of season by beating Aston Villa 1-2 at Villa Park.
The win comes just days after manager Alan Pardew criticised the club about the lack of signings and failure to add to their squad in the summer transfer window. The only new signing Loic Remy, on a season-long loan from QPR, made an immediate impact on his debut for the visitors with some excellent work setting up Ben Arfa to open the scoring. The home side equalised after the break, Christian Benteke netting an Ashley Westwood corner. But the Magpies came back, Ben Arfa pulling a save out of Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan with a long-range effort before Yoan Gouffran was the quickest to react to net the rebound and defy Paul Lambert's men as well as their own boss.
Fulham 1-1 West Brom:
Gareth McAuley's injury time equaliser secured a point against the run of play for West Brom at Craven Cottage.
Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell had given the home side the lead in the first half with a fine half-volley from a corner. The Cottagers were dominant and in control with the Baggies rarely threatening, their new £6m-striker Victor Anichebe making no real impact for the visitors.
But Steve Clarke's men salvaged a point in the dying minutes when McAuley climbed highest and headed in Chris Brunt's corner, scoring his club's first Premier League goal of the season.
Hull City 1-1 Cardiff:
Premier League newcomers Hull City and Cardiff City left the KC Stadium sharing just a goal and point each in a game dominated by misses and what-ifs.
Curtis Davies gave the Tigers the lead heading in Tom Huddlestone's cross after Danny Graham had missed a sitter for the home side. The Bluebirds rallied after the break and were level soon after thanks to Peter Whittingham's low-shot volley off Don Cowie's cross. Both teams went close but missed out on nicking a winner, Aron Gunnarsson heading wide for the visitors and Graham shooting wide. In the dying minutes, Graham sent a header straight into Cardiff goalkeeper Joe Lewis' gloves, epitomising his struggling form having not scored since January.
Stoke City 0-0 Manchester City:
Below-par Manchester City were lucky to escape the Britannia Stadium with a point after Stoke City missed several chances to break the deadlock and secure a third consecutive Premier League victory.
Mark Hughes' men posed much more of a threat compared to a passive City side who did not make much of their possession apart from a couple of long-range shots.
Jonathan Walters wasted two glorious chances for the Potters whilst Kenwyne Jones was denied by a fine Joe Hart block. The England goalkeeper was kept the busier of the two keepers and did well to deny the home side any glory, but Mauricio Pellegrini should be worried his side did not pose more of a threat.
Stoke have never lost a Premier League game at home against Manchester City, recording one win and five draws in their six meetings.
Sunderland 1-3 Arsenal:
Bottom club Sunderland crumbled to yet another defeat falling 1-3 against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.
Arsenal debutant Mesut Ozil set up Olivier Giroud to give the Gunners an early lead before Craig Gardner levelled from the spot after the interval following Laurent Koscielny's fowl on Adam Johnson. Aaron Ramsey's double sealed the Gunners' comeback and win sending them to the top of the Premier League.
Theo Walcott could have had a hat-trick in a game that could have ended so much worse for the hosts despite all controversy and protests.
Black Cats manager Paulo Di Canio was in his typical temperamental rage after Jozy Altidore was denied an equaliser after referee Martin Atkinson did not play an advantage and was later sent off for his continuous protests. The American striker had wrestled himself past Bacary Sagna and squeezed a shot past Wojciech Szczesny and over the line before it was cleared, but Atkinson brought play back for a Sunderland free kick outside the box. But the controversial Italian boss cannot deny his side were dire, out-thought and out-played and are at the bottom of the Premier League for a reason.
Tottenham 2-0 Norwich:
Tottenham started life without Gareth Bale with a comfortable 2-0 home win against Norwich, Gylfi Sigurdsson scoring a goal in each half.
New signing Christian Eriksen rewarded manager Andre Villas-Boas for handing him his debut creating the opening goal for Sigurdsson to turn the chance in. The Iceland international doubled the score off Paulinho and was denied a hat-trick by Canaries goalkeeper John Ruddy. The 26-year old stopper also kept Andros Townsend off the scoreboard.
AVB will be more than happy with the style and comfort of the win, showing and convincing that life and football can continue for Tottenham and the club have moved on, even without their starman Bale.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea:
Roberto Martinez recorded his first Premier League win as Everton manager beating Chelsea 1-0 at Goodison Park and inflicting Jose Mourinho's first domestic defeat since his return to Roman Abramovich's club.
Steven Naismith header in first-half injury time was enough to seal the deal after both Samuel Eto'o and Andre Schurrle wasted good opportunities for the visitors. Chelsea's new striker Eto'o looked goal bound when Gareth Barry intervened with a brilliant goal-saving tackle. The loan signing from Manchester City who joined the Toffees on deadline day, starred with a man-of-the-match performance sparing goalkeeper Tim Howard from embarrassment. Defiant defending and stubborn blocking, concentration and strength to the final whistle frustrated and in the end beat Mourinho's men and had Goodison Park rocking at Howard Webb's final whistle.
Southampton 0-0 West Ham:
West Ham were lucky to escape from Southampton with a point after their goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen produced one brilliant save after another. The 38-year-old kept out Dani Osvaldo, Morgan Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama and Rickie Lambert with some splendid saves in a spectacular display in a match that was dominated by the Saints.
Mauricio Pochettino's men would have been pleased with their overall performance but were left frustrated and disappointed with the result, two points dropped and failure to score.
Sam Allerdyce's men meanwhile, who have now only produced six shots on target in the league and have yet to score this season, will be more than relieved and happy with the point won.
Swansea 2-2 Liverpool:
Liverpool moved back to the top of the Premier League table after an entertaining 2-2 draw against Swansea which saw former Red midfielder Jonjo Shelvey contributed to all four goals at the Liberty Stadium.
The summer signing put the hosts in the lead after just 87 seconds with a nice curl into the bottom corner. But his clumsy backpass allowed Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge to fire home his fourth goal in four for the visitors four minutes later. Shelvey then made another spill to hand Victor Moses his debut goal before heading the ball on to Miguel Michu who levelled the score again.
The draw put an end to Brendan Rodgers' men's 100% record as they dropped their first points against his former side but the result was still enough for them to leapfrog Arsenal and Tottenham back to the top of the Premier League. Swansea meanwhile, are 13th after recording four points from their opening four matches.
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