Premier League: QPR 1 Southampton 3

QPR remain bottom of the table after a 3-1 home defeat against Southampton on Saturday.

Goals from Rickie Lambert, Jason Puncheon and an own goal from Anton Ferdinand consigned the winless Londoners to their third loss of the season at Loftus Road.

An impressive first 45 minutes from the Saints left QPR chasing a two-goal deficit going into the second half, as a header from Lambert and a sweet strike from Puncheon left QPR in a sorry state at half-time.

They were unable to mount a comeback in the second half, despite an early goal from Junior Hoilett, as Southampton continued to cause the Londoners more problems and an own goal from Ferdinand ended their hopes of picking up a first Premier League win of the season.

Southampton started with the better of the action with two chances in the first 10 minutes, Lallana first blazing over after a lovely move and, just minutes later, an in-swinging cross from Puncheon found its way on to the post.

Twenty minutes in and, following slack defensive play from QPR, another chance fell QPR’s way. From a corner, Lambert was left unmarked at the back post but the 30-year-old was unable to direct his header past Julio Cesar as the Brazilian tipped it wide.

From the ensuing corner, however, Southampton found the breakthrough. QPR were unable to clear their lines and the ball found its way to Cork in the area – a shot from the midfielder was skewed wide but Puncheon was at the back post for what seemed like a routine tap-in.

However, Jose Bosingwa thwarted the winger with a goalline clearance but, atoning for his earlier miss, Lambert was there to head home the rebound.

With the end of the first half already in sight, Puncheon added to QPR’s dismay when, following excellent work from Nathaniel Clyne down the right and finding himself with time to spare on the edge of the area, the winger fired home.

QPR started the second half strongly as Djibril Cisse forced a good save from Gazzaniga following a Taarabt cross.

It was just minutes later before another excellent Taarabt cross forced QPR back into the game; Taarabt picking up the ball on the left wing and delivering a dangerous inswinger. It proved too dangerous for Gazzaniga as he came and found himself nowhere near the ball, leaving Hoilett with a simple header.

Following the goal, Southampton asserted themselves on the game once more as QPR’s defence looked susceptible.

With Hughes’ side struggling to trouble the away side, Yoshida forced a great save from Cesar in the 75th minute, following yet another troublesome corner.

Their dominance paid off in the 82nd minute as a short corner caught QPR unawares, resulting in a low ball across the penalty area that Ferdinand could only divert into his own goal.

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Premier League: Liverpool 3 Wigan 0

Liverpool produced a dazzling second-half display to beat Wigan 3-0 at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, with Luis Suarez netting a brace.

The hosts broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half, with Suarez grabbing his ninth league goal of the campaign, and he scored his 10th just 11 minutes later after a superb ball from Jose Enrique.

It was Enrique’s turn to get on the scoresheet in the 65th minute as Liverpool scored their first win since a 1-0 Premier League triumph over Reading a month ago.

The hosts started the brighter of the two teams and Enrique, in a more advanced role, dragged an effort just wide from the edge of the area, while Daniel Agger went close shortly afterwards, nodding past the post from a Steven Gerrard corner.

Moments before half-time, a flowing move involving Gerrard and Suarez down the right saw the latter drill in an excellent cross which Enrique just failed to turn home, with Ali Al-Habsi getting a strong palm on the ball to keep it out and the two sides went in at the break level.

Liverpool raced out of the blocks in the second half though, and took the lead in the 46th minute through Suarez. Raheem Sterling latched on to a poor Jean Beausejour pass before rounding Maynor Figueroa at pace and breaking into the box, cutting the ball back for the forward to lash home into the top corner unmarked to hand his side the lead.

With Rodgers’ side dominating possession, they doubled their advantage in the 57th minute with Suarez once again grabbing the goal, after coolly slotting home when put through one-on-one by a magnificent pass from Enrique.

They made it 3-0 in the 65th minute with Enrique capping another lively performance in an unfamiliar role on the wing by tapping home into an empty net after Al-Habsi palmed out a Sterling shot.

The hosts should have made it four minutes later when Jordan Henderson, on as a substitute for Suso, blazed over a volley at the back post when put through by a delicate Suarez pass over the top.

By this point it was simply a matter of damage limitation for Roberto Martinez’s side and Glen Johnson almost extended Liverpool’s lead to four, but his drive from the edge of the box after a mazy run was pulled just wide of the bottom left-hand corner.

Despite flooding forward in search of another, Liverpool were unable to add to their tally on an afternoon full of promising performances and energetic attacking play.

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Premier League: Newcastle 1 Swansea 2

Frustrations at St James’ Park continue to grow after Newcastle United fell to another home defeat on Saturday, this time to Swansea.

The Magpies failed to capitalise on a number of opportunities on goal, with second-half goals from Michu and Jonathan de Guzman enough to seal all three points for the Welsh outfit, who leapfrog Alan Pardew’s side in the table.

Pablo Hernandez carved out the first chance of the game within five minutes.

The former Valencia man’s through ball split the Newcastle centre-backs to play Dyer in on goal, yet the 24-year-old dragged his effort wide of Tim Krul’s goalmouth.

The Dutchman was then on hand to thwart the midfielder’s own attempt from distance.

The lively Hatem Ben Arfa had an effort that crashed against the side netting following a mazy run, yet the visitors continued to look the more threatening and only a brilliant save from Krul prevented Michu from opening the scoring.

The Frenchman was then on hand to tee up Demba Ba with a driven cross from distance. Yet the Senegalese striker, limited to long-ball service for much of the half, was unable to direct his header on goal.

Up popped Ben Arfa again to force a superb save from Gerhard Tremmel in the Swansea goal before Itay Shechter failed to guide the ball beyond Krul as the half ended goalless.

The introduction of Shola Ameobi after the break in place of Shane Ferguson gave Newcastle added impetus, with the striker teeing up Vurnon Anita to drive at goal from distance.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure, with Ba gifted two opportunities in quick succession, but the striker failed to threaten on both occasions.

However, a poor Krul clearance gifted Laudrup’s men an opportunity on the break, and the Dutchman was made to pay.

Hernandez picked up the ball on the halfway line, and drove down the flank before teeing up Michu to head Swansea into a deserved lead.

The home crowd’s frustrations were increased as Newcastle continued to prove wasteful in the final third – Sammy Ameobi a major culprit – while Swansea looked increasingly likely to score a second.

The visitors soon wrapped up the points with de Guzman the first to pounce on a rebound from a Krul save and drive the ball home from a tight angle.

Newcastle may have hoped to have salvaged a point after Ba’s late header, but their stuttering start to the season continues.

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Premier League: West Brom 2 Chelsea 1

Shane Long was the star as West Brom dealt Chelsea’s title hopes a blow with a hard-fought win at the Hawthorns.

Long scored the first and set up the second on Saturday to give the Baggies a victory which cements their best start to a league season in 35 years and extends the Blues’ winless Premier League run to four matches.

The result gave West Brom boss Steve Clarke a famous triumph over his former club, while Roberto Di Matteo tasted defeat at the same ground where Andre Villas-Boas’ Blues reign ended last term.

Chelsea started brightly and, on seven minutes, Victor Moses’ pull-back found Ryan Bertrand, whose shot was cleared off the line by Liam Ridgewell, with Jonas Olsson blocking Eden Hazard’s rebound.

But against the run of play it was the hosts who took the lead three minutes later with their first meaningful attack.

Zoltan Gera pulled the ball back to James Morrison, whose pinpoint cross found Long and, having evaded a statuesque David Luiz, the Irishman nodded in from close range.

The Baggies continued to look dangerous going forward, and on 35 minutes Long shrugged off Cahill before curling a low effort just wide of Cech’s post.

It was a miss they rued four minutes later when Cesar Azpilicueta’s hanging cross was met by Hazard, and his back-post header deflected off Billy Jones and past Myhill.

Sturridge and Moses both threatened as Chelsea finished the half strongly, but wayward finishing ensured both sides went in level at the break.

The visitors began the second half as they had ended the first, and on 47 minutes Moses’ driving run and cross found Sturridge, who tested Myhill with a fierce strike on the turn.

But three minutes later West Brom edged ahead again, with Long the provider this time.

After a sweeping counterattack, the Irishman curled a superb ball in from the right for Peter Odemwingie, who nodded in his fourth league goal of the season at the near post.

Chelsea pushed on again, and a minute later only a sliding block from Olsson denied Sturridge a simple tap-in from another dangerous Azpilicueta delivery.

Di Matteo introduced Mata and Oscar for Oriol Romeu and the ineffective Fernando Torres just after the hour, with Sturridge assuming his preferred role as central striker.

The changes almost had the desired effect when, with 12 minutes left, the Spaniard sent Sturridge clear, but the youngster’s firm strike was well saved by Myhill from close range.

Four minutes from time Sturridge missed another guilt-edged chance, but West Brom held on.

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Premier League: Reading 2 Everton 1

Reading claimed their first Premier League win of the season on Saturday, coming from behind to beat Everton 2-1 in controversial circumstances.

Everton dominated proceedings throughout the first half at Madejski Stadium, opening the scoring after 10 minutes through Steven Naismith, but they failed to increase their lead and had two penalty shouts turned down.

Adam le Fondre pulled one back just after the break, however, and with the visitors going all out for the win the game became very open. With about 10 minutes remaining, Reading were awarded a penalty, after a foul on Le Fondre, and the striker tucked it away to hand his side their first victory of the season.

Moyes’ men did not have to wait long for the breakthrough, and they did not have to work that hard for it either – the Royals’ defence absolutely gifting them the opening goal.

Chris Gunter failed to rid the danger when his sliced clearance went up high and into his own box, then a mix-up between Kaspars Gorkss and Sean Morrison firstly allowed Marouane Fellaini to win the ball.

The hosts then half-cleared the danger, only for Nikica Jelavic to win it back and cross for the arriving Naismith – finding Gorkss and his defensive colleagues asleep once more.

Although Reading had a brilliant chance to level straight away, Le Fondre beating Tim Howard to a loose ball but lifting it over the bar as he tried to evade the men on the line, the rest of the first-half pressure all came from the visiting side.

Steven Pienaar nearly doubled the score, but dragged his right-footed shot wide, before Everton saw the first of two penalty appeals turned away. Gorkss slid in recklessly from behind on Naismith, getting none of the ball, but the referee waved play on.

The visitors continued to create openings, Leon Osman seeing a one-on-one saved by Adam Federici and Phil Jagielka having a glancing header cleared off the line, while they could have had another penalty when Jelavic’s drive struck Morrison’s hand, but for all their dominance the half ended 1-0.

After the break, however, Reading got themselves back into the game though Le Fondre. The forward rose the highest and got his head on the end of Nicky Shorey’s dangerous free-kick, beating Tim Howard with a thumping effort.

The game then become incredibly open. Thomas Hitzlsperger wasted a clear opening by allowing Sean Morrison to get back and block his effort, before the Everton man was then exposed at the other end by Roberts, who played in Le Fondre only for the Royals’ goalscorer to scuff it into Howard’s arms.

As the clash became more stretched, Le Fondre looked to be in on goal after a quick counter-attack but Seamus Coleman came out of nowhere to disposess him with a fantastic, goal-saving tackle.

The defender soon turned from hero to zero, though, as he conceded a penalty for a clumsy challenge from behind on Le Fondre, bundling the forward to the ground.

Reading’s number nine took it himself, sending Howard the wrong way and giving his side the lead and their first three points of the campaign.

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Premier League: Arsenal 5 Tottenham 2

Arsenal rediscovered their attacking flair with a 5-2 victory over 10-man Tottenham in a captivating north London derby.

But Saturday’s seven-goal thriller hinged on a first-half red card shown to Emmanuel Adebayor, who had put Tottenham in front in the 10th minute .

However, the former Arsenal turned from hero to zero eight minutes later as he was sent off for a dangerous studs-up challenge on Santi Cazorla.

From that point on, Arsenal took complete control and were 3-1 up by half-time thanks to goals from Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.

Santi Cazorla scored the fourth on the hour mark and Theo Walcott added the fifth in the closing stages either side of a Gareth Bale strike that will offer little consolation to Tottenham supporters.

The final score mirrors the same fixture last season, the turning point in Arsenal’s campaign, and takes the Gunners to sixth in the Premier League, two points ahead of Spurs.

It all started so well for Tottenham as they controlled the early exchanges and took the lead in the 10th minute. Jermain Defoe raced on to a long ball as the Arsenal defence stood statuesque and after his shot was saved by Wojciech Szczesny, Adebayor scrambled in the rebound.

But Spurs’ afternoon fell apart eight minutes later. Adebayor, clearly pumped up for the occasion as he was taunted by the home fans, could have no complaints after being sent off by referee Howard Webb for his challenge on Cazorla.

From then on, Arsenal were dominant, teasing their neighbours and creating chances at will with their use of the ball in midfield.

In the 24th minute, Mertesacker levelled with a towering free header from 12 yards after good work down the right from Walcott.

The Gunners eventually took the lead they deserved in the 42nd minute.

Podolski tricked his way into the the penalty area and his shot flicked off the foot of William Gallas and spun fortuitously into the far corner.

On the stroke of half-time, Giroud made sure there was no way back for Spurs. The French striker, a constant menace throughout the game, was simply too sharp as he fired home Cazorla’s cross at the near post.

Villas-Boas responded by switching to three at the back during the break but his players were unable to stem the tide.

On the hour mark, Arsenal worked the ball to Podolski on the left and the German produced a perfect low cross from the left for Cazorla to score from eight yards. 4-1.

Bale fired in Spurs’ second after a fine run but by that stage Arsenal were going through the motions, conserving their energy ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Montpellier.

There was still time for Walcott to add a fifth with his right foot following a scorching run by substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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Premier League: Manchester City 5 Aston Villa 0

Manchester City romped to a 5-0 win over Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on Saturday to put the pressure on city rivals Manchester United.

City had to rely on a goalmouth scramble to open the scoring two minutes before half-time when David Silva pounced on a loose ball inside the Villa penalty area to score his first goal of the season.

The second half was much more entertaining as Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez grabbed two goals each to secure an emphatic win that puts City on top of the Premier League table by a point, although Manchester United will reclaim the lead with a win over Norwich later on Saturday.

The hosts settled into the game very quickly and were controlling play nicely but struggled to find their way through the organised Villa defence.

However, with half-time looming they got the break they were looking for as Silva tapped home following a goalmouth scramble.

Sergio Aguero was the first to try and get on the end of Samir Nasri’s corner, Vincent Kompany had the second attempt and Carlos Tevez had a third before the ball broke for Silva who nipped in front of Matija Nastasic to score from close range.

As the second half began the home side carried on where they left off, controlling the play with crisp passing and plenty of movement, and nine minutes into the second they were rewarded with a second goal albeit following a controversial decision from the assistant referee.

Silva drifted in from the right hand side and played a perfect pass to Aguero but just as the Argentine was about to pull the trigger Ron Vlaar made a superb challenge to concede a corner. It was from the set piece that Andreas Weimann was adjudged to have handled the ball and a penalty was awarded. Aguero stepped up and made no mistake, beating Brad Guzan down to the goalkeeper’s left hand side.

Just when Paul Lambert thought things could not get any worse, they did as his side conceded another penalty from another handball, but this one was much clearer. Barry Bannan caught the ball with his arm as he slid in to tackle Sliva and referee Jon Moss had no hesitation to award the penalty. This time Tevez took the responsibility and he fired past Guzan.

Minutes later the score was 4-0 as Tevez released Aguero on the right hand side. He took on Enda Stevens and unleashed a shot from inside the area that was on target, and the deflection it took off the young full-back’s foot caused it to beat Guzan at his near post.

The rout was complete in the 74th minute as Tevez added his second following a flowing move from the home side. Substitute Edin Dzeko released Nasri on the left hand side of the penalty area and his low cross found the Argentine who had the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net.

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