A massive week for the sides began with a full weekend programme that certainly exceeded all expectation with a few huge surprises at Anfield and Old Trafford.
Saturday's lunch time kick-off saw Arsenal travel to Liverpool on a ten game unbeaten run and seven year since their last loss in front of the Kop. Arsenal were stunned as after barely a minute, Skrtel connected Gerrard's free-kick and swept it past Szczesny and doubled his tally in the 10th minute as Liverpool blitzed the Gunners.
Sterling and Sturridge added one each with only 20 minutes on the clock when the England striker struck and Arsenal were on their way to hammering as they went into the break 4-0 down. Sterling hit his second in the 52nd minute and Arsenal got what was sheer consolation when Arteta slotted a penalty past Mignolet in the 69th minute to reduce the deficit but a 5-1 defeat put out a message that Liverpool can not be written off in the fight for the title.
Chelsea had the chance to go top after Arsenal's loss and did so in style as Hazard struck a hat-trick in the 27th, 34th and 63rd minute with the sealer coming via a penalty as the Blues defeated Newcastle 3-0. West Ham rose to 15th with a 2-0 win away to Aston Villa with Nolan scoring both in the space of two minutes early in the second half to continue his and the Hammers improvement in form.
Crystal Palace and West Brom both got rewards for using their deadline day signings but it was the Eagles that made the most of it in a 3-1 win, Ince put them ahead after 15 minutes and fellow new boy Ledley added a second 12 minutes later to give them a 2-0 lead at the break. Bifouma struck on his Baggies debut three minutes into the second but Chamakh sealed the win for the hosts with a 69th minute penalty.
Norwich against Man City in the minds of many predictors was a comfortable win for the visitors but the Canaries defied their low league position to hold the league's top scorers to a draw and give themselves a vital point to avoid falling into the bottom three.
Southampton raced into an early lead at home to Stoke when Lambert struck inside seven minutes but new signing Odemwingie levelled for the Potters in the 38th minute only to see his effort cancelled out three minutes later by Davis who regained the lead for the hosts. The sides went in level at the break when former Southampton hero Crouch levelled in the 44th minute. Both sides pushed for a winner in the second half but to no avail as they shared the points.
Hull improved their form with a 2-0 victory away to Sunderland to half the hosts recent good run which started badly as Brown was dismissed after only four minutes and Hull took advantage and took the lead 12 minutes later through Long. They sealed the win as another new signing struck when Jelavic hit past Mannone just after the hour to confirm the three points would be going back to Hull.
The evening kick-off saw Swansea win the Welsh derby at home the Cardiff with a comfortable 3-0 win which was a surpise given that the sides were level at the break but Routeledge opened the scoring two minutes into the second half and Dyer and Bony struck in the 79th and 85th minutes to seal the win.
Super Sunday began with Tottenham sealing a narrow 1-0 win over top five rival Everton with Adebayor striking the vital winner in the 65th minute but this weekend was a case of the first and last games taking the headlines as Manchester United hosted basement boys Fulham in a shocking result that began with Fulham leading after 19 minutes thanks to Sidwell's goal. United remained behind until the 78th minute when a double swung the game around with Van Persie levelling followed by a stunning strike from Carrick to put the hosts in front. However, United's home form continued to drop when Bent capitalised from a De Gea parry to level in the final minute and leave the hosts nine points adrift of 4th spot and 15 off the top.
Part one of a packed week is complete as the league moves on to a full midweek programme that starts tomorrow night.
Saturday's lunch time kick-off saw Arsenal travel to Liverpool on a ten game unbeaten run and seven year since their last loss in front of the Kop. Arsenal were stunned as after barely a minute, Skrtel connected Gerrard's free-kick and swept it past Szczesny and doubled his tally in the 10th minute as Liverpool blitzed the Gunners.
Sterling and Sturridge added one each with only 20 minutes on the clock when the England striker struck and Arsenal were on their way to hammering as they went into the break 4-0 down. Sterling hit his second in the 52nd minute and Arsenal got what was sheer consolation when Arteta slotted a penalty past Mignolet in the 69th minute to reduce the deficit but a 5-1 defeat put out a message that Liverpool can not be written off in the fight for the title.
Chelsea had the chance to go top after Arsenal's loss and did so in style as Hazard struck a hat-trick in the 27th, 34th and 63rd minute with the sealer coming via a penalty as the Blues defeated Newcastle 3-0. West Ham rose to 15th with a 2-0 win away to Aston Villa with Nolan scoring both in the space of two minutes early in the second half to continue his and the Hammers improvement in form.
Crystal Palace and West Brom both got rewards for using their deadline day signings but it was the Eagles that made the most of it in a 3-1 win, Ince put them ahead after 15 minutes and fellow new boy Ledley added a second 12 minutes later to give them a 2-0 lead at the break. Bifouma struck on his Baggies debut three minutes into the second but Chamakh sealed the win for the hosts with a 69th minute penalty.
Norwich against Man City in the minds of many predictors was a comfortable win for the visitors but the Canaries defied their low league position to hold the league's top scorers to a draw and give themselves a vital point to avoid falling into the bottom three.
Southampton raced into an early lead at home to Stoke when Lambert struck inside seven minutes but new signing Odemwingie levelled for the Potters in the 38th minute only to see his effort cancelled out three minutes later by Davis who regained the lead for the hosts. The sides went in level at the break when former Southampton hero Crouch levelled in the 44th minute. Both sides pushed for a winner in the second half but to no avail as they shared the points.
Hull improved their form with a 2-0 victory away to Sunderland to half the hosts recent good run which started badly as Brown was dismissed after only four minutes and Hull took advantage and took the lead 12 minutes later through Long. They sealed the win as another new signing struck when Jelavic hit past Mannone just after the hour to confirm the three points would be going back to Hull.
The evening kick-off saw Swansea win the Welsh derby at home the Cardiff with a comfortable 3-0 win which was a surpise given that the sides were level at the break but Routeledge opened the scoring two minutes into the second half and Dyer and Bony struck in the 79th and 85th minutes to seal the win.
Super Sunday began with Tottenham sealing a narrow 1-0 win over top five rival Everton with Adebayor striking the vital winner in the 65th minute but this weekend was a case of the first and last games taking the headlines as Manchester United hosted basement boys Fulham in a shocking result that began with Fulham leading after 19 minutes thanks to Sidwell's goal. United remained behind until the 78th minute when a double swung the game around with Van Persie levelling followed by a stunning strike from Carrick to put the hosts in front. However, United's home form continued to drop when Bent capitalised from a De Gea parry to level in the final minute and leave the hosts nine points adrift of 4th spot and 15 off the top.
Part one of a packed week is complete as the league moves on to a full midweek programme that starts tomorrow night.
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