Mata ran the show for Chelsea

There were comfortable victories for all of last seasons top four with the bottom three still searching for their first victories, while Everton and West Brom continued their impressive starts to the season.

Manchester United reversed the score line from last seasons defeat to Newcastle United with an impressive 3-0 victory at The Sports Direct Arena. The Red Devils were at if from the off scoring two goals, both from corner kicks, in the first 15 minutes of the match. The first came from a bullet of a header by defender Jonny Evans with his defensive partner Patrice Evra adding a second after breaking free of his marker to head home. Tom Cleverley sealed the points for the Sir Alex’s side in the second half when his cross-come-shot spectacularly found the top corner. The result moves his side up to second in the table with Newcastle dropping to 10^th.

Sunderland suffered their first league defeat of the season away to Manchester City in a comprehensive 3-0 victory for The Sky Blues who registered their first clean sheet in the process. Aleksandar Kolorov gave City the lead after 5 minutes with a fantastic free-kick and the home side’s tally was doubled on the hour mark by substitute Sergio Aguero with his second goal in as many games. James Milner sealed the victory for the home side late on to extend his side’s unbeaten run and move City up to third in the table level on points with second placed rivals Manchester United.

Chelsea continued their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable victory at home to Norwich City. The visitors who have yet to win in the league this season took and unlikely lead through Grant Holt early on but it was not to last. Fernando Torres equalised minutes later with goals from Frank Lampard and Edin Hazard putting the home side 3-1 up at half time.Chelsea continued their dominance in the second half adding a fourth through Branislav Ivanovic to keep The Blues top of the table and leave Norwich in the relegation zone.

Another side yet to register their first Premier League victory of the season are Reading who must have thought their luck was about to change out after going 2-0 up away to Swansea City. The Royals took the lead through Pavel Pogrebnyak with Noel Hunt adding a second before half time but Swansea turned it around after the break with goals from Michu and Routledge to draw the home side level. It was the first time Swansea had managed to score in four matches after failing to break the opposition’s defences in their three previous fixtures, all of which ended in defeat. The draw kept Swansea in 11^th position with Reading dropping into the bottom three.

ELSEWHERE

Tottenham continued their impressive form of late with their fourth straight Premier League victory as they beat Aston Villa at White Hart Lane. Steven Caulker scored his first goal for Spurs in the 58^th minute with Aaron Lennon adding a second with his first of the season 9 minutes later to seal the victory for the home side. Spurs are now level on points with fourth placed Everton only remaining below them on goal difference while Villa are hovering just 2 points above the relegation zone.

Liverpool remained without a home league victory this season as they were held to the weekend’s only goalless game against Stoke. It was a tight game in terms of possession with both sides having chances to score but neither managing to make the breakthrough. Liverpool remain in 14^th keeping the pressure on new manager Brendan Rodgers while Stoke stay 12^th.

Southampton climbed out of the bottom three with a late goal to rescue a point at home to Fulham. The home side had been in front for much of the match after Jose Fonte gave Southampton the lead in the 4^th minute but Fulham equalised after 70^th minutes when Saints defender Jos Hooiveld diverted John Arne Riise’s shot into his own net. Keiran Richardson looked to have won the game for Fulham when he scored in the 88^th minute but Fonte scored his second of the match minutes later to salvage a vital point for Southampton.

Olivier Giroud scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal to help inflict West Ham to their first home league defeat of the season. The Hammers took the lead through a superb curling shot from Mohamed Diame before Giroud equalised for the away side. Second half substitute Theo Walcott gave Arsenal the lead in the 77^th minute before Santi Cazorla wrapped up the victory for the away side with a fantastic strike from 20 yards .

This season’s biggest success story so far has to be West Brom who continued their great run with victory over struggling QPR.  The Baggies have now picked up 14 points from their opening 7 fixtures, their best start to a top-flight campaign for 93 years. West Brom took the lead early on through James Morrison with Zoltan Gera doubling his side’s lead after 22 minutes. Adel Taarabt pulled one back for QPR with a brilliant volley but Youssouf Mulumbu restored West Brom’s two goal advantage. Esteban Granero scored QPR’s second in the 90^th minute to set up a frantic finish but West Brom held on for the win to stay in 6^th in the league with only an inferior goal difference keeping them outside of the top four. QPR remain rooted at the bottom of the table still searching for their first win.

Finally, Leighton Baines kept Everton in the top four after scoring a late penalty against Wigan to rescue a point for his side. Wigan took the lead through Arouna Kone in the 10^th minute but Nikita Jelavic immediately hit back for Everton with his 3^rd goal in two games. Franco Di Santo restored Wigan’s advantage before half time but Everton’s pressure in the second half paid off when they were awarded a penalty in 87^th minute which Baines emphatically converted to draw his side level.