Champions Chelsea hit the top of the English Premiership table for the first time this season when a second-half Frank Lampard double earned them a 2-0 victory at west London rivals Fulham yesterday.
England midfielder Lampard, criticised for his performances at the World Cup, took his season's tally to four
with a 73rd-minute penalty and right-foot finish seven minutes later.
Manchester United failed to join Chelsea at the top when they were surprisingly held 1-1 at Reading, with Cristiano Ronaldo rescuing a point for the Reds with a stunning strike.
Steve Coppell's Reading, who have adapted well to the top flight after storming to promotion last season, looked on course for a famous victory against United when Irish striker Kevin Doyle held his nerve to score from the penalty spot shortly after halftime. He beat Edwin van der Sar after Gary Neville handled a skidding cross in the area.
United's pressure finally paid off after 73 minutes when Portugal forward Ronaldo produced a superb individual goal.
Liverpool and Arsenal, both on the up after poor starts, enjoyed emphatic 3-0 home wins. Liverpool are up to sixth after maintaining their perfect home record this season, beating a Tottenham Hotspur side who have managed just two goals in six games.
Dutchman Dirk Kuyt, who is keeping England striker Peter Crouch on the bench, struck his second goal in four days at Anfield as Liverpool turned on the style. Chile winger Mark Gonzalez opened the scoring and John Arne Riise's thunderbolt condemned Spurs to their fourth defeat this term.
Arsenal celebrated their first league win at their new Emirates Stadium with victory over Sheffield United. French duo William Gallas and Thierry Henry were both ontarget for the Gunners.
Martin O'Neill's much-improved Aston Villa climbed to fourth with a 2-0 home win over Charlton Athletic, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Luke Moore scoring at Villa Park.
Watford are still looking for their first win of the season but moved off the bottom with a 1-1 draw at Wigan Athletic. Manchester City, beaten by lower league Chesterfield in the League Cup in midweek, responded with a 2-0 home victory against West Ham United, with Georgios Samaras scoring twice. Blackburn Rovers won 1-0 at Middlesbrough.
- REUTERS
