Liverpool striker Michael Owen answered his critics with a hat-trick as the Reds kept in touch with leaders Arsenal with a victory against Manchester City today.
Owen had appeared to be lacking confidence early on this season but put that right at Maine Road against Kevin Keegan's men, who last lost at home in the league a year ago to the day.
Owen had been denied by City goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel in the fourth minute but from the resulting corner the ball fell to Owen, who scored from close range - his first goal of the season in open play. He then added a second in the 64th minute with a composed finish as Schmeichel came out to face him.
Owen completed a wonderful day for him personally with a minute to go by notching a third to leave Liverpool second in the Barclaycard Premiership table, still two points adrift of Arsenal.
Chelsea, in third place at the start of the day, lost 3-2 at home to London rivals West Ham, who celebrated their first win of the season. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored his first Premiership goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 21st minute after Robert Huth had been fouled in the box by Scott Minto.
But the Hammers equalised five minutes before the break when Jermaine Defoe, who had come on as a fourth-minute substitute for Frederic Kanoute, stabbed home following a corner.
The visitors went ahead three minutes into the second half when Paolo di Canio teed himself up for a stunning long-range volley which flew past Carlo Cudicini to make it 2-1.
But Chelsea were not finished and another mercurial Italian - Gianfranco Zola, curled home an equaliser with 16 minutes to go. However, di Canio was not to be denied and he scored his second to lift some of the pressure off Hammers boss Glenn Roeder.
Middlesbrough moved above Tottenham and up to third with a convincing victory at White Hart Lane. Massimo Maccarone was Boro's star, finishing from close range in the 33rd minute after team-mate Alen Boksic had miskicked his effort at goal.
He then laid on a second for Geremi, before setting up Geremi's Cameroon international team-mate Joseph Desire Job for a third. Manchester United secured their first away win in the Premiership of the season, coming from behind to beat Charlton 3-1 at The Valley and climbing up to fourth.
Danish midfielder Claus Jensen had given the Addicks the lead two minutes before half-time with a superb curling shot, but Paul Scholes scored early in the second half when found unmarked by Ryan Giggs.
Giggs then added the second, accepting a pass from substitute Ruud van Nistelrooy before rounding Dean Kiely and tucking the ball in.
The Dutchman then followed up his Champions League brace against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek with an injury-time goal to seal three points for the Red Devils. Sunderland eased the pressure on their manager Peter Reid with a 1-0 win at home to Aston Villa.
French forward David Bellion scored the only goal with 20 minutes left, firing home assuredly after being picked out by Julio Arca to give the Black Cats their first home win of the season.
Southampton were forced to settle for a draw at Bolton - a result which did no real favours for either of these slow starters. England full-back Wayne Bridge appeared to have secured three points when he smashed the ball home after some neat interplay with Anders Svensson in the 82nd minute.
But French World Cup-winning midfielder Youri Djorkaeff equalised for Bolton three minutes into injury time to leave both teams in the relegation zone.
Everton grabbed two goals in a minute at the end of the first half as they beat Fulham 2-0 at Goodison Park. Kevin Campbell put the Toffees ahead in the 45th minute and seconds later Thomas Gravesen notched a second.
In a midday kick-off at Elland Road, Arsenal thrashed Leeds 4-1 to firmly establish their supremacy at the top.
Nigerian striker Kanu set them on the way in the ninth minute, Kolo Toure headed in a second and Thierry Henry scored the Gunners' third a minute into the second half.
Harry Kewell pulled one back for Leeds with six minutes left but Arsenal responded quickly as Kanu raced through for his second and his team's fourth in a devastating collective display.
They have now equalled Manchester United's mark of 29 consecutive Premiership games unbeaten, broken the record for scoring in consecutive games (47) and eclipsed Nottingham Forest's record by going 23 away league games without a defeat.
Birmingham v Newcastle (5.30 pm)
Bolton 1-1Southampton
Charlton 1-3Man Utd
Chelsea 2-3West Ham
Everton 2-0Fulham
Leeds 1-4Arsenal
Man City 0-3Liverpool
Sunderland 1-0Aston Villa
Tottenham 0-3Middlesbrough
(Reports to follow...)