Liverpool fight back to down United

Substitute Ryan Babel scored the winning goal as Liverpool FC came from behind to defeat Manchester United FC 2-1 at Anfield in Saturday's early kick-off, followed later by impressive away victories for Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC as the quartet prepared for their return to the UEFA Champions League.

Tévez opener
The Reds had not beaten their north-west rivals in the Premier League since 2004, a statistic which did not look like ending when Dimitar Berbatov, on his first appearance for United following his €38m transfer from Tottenham Hotspur FC, showed tremendous vision to cut the ball back from the byline and into the path of Carlos Tévez who side-footed the opening goal into the roof of the net with three minutes played. Dirk Kuyt almost conjured an immediate response as he volleyed wide, and the Dutchman was also well placed to draw a point-blank save from Edwin van der Sar after the goalkeeper had spilled a 12th-minute corner.

Own goal
The former Netherlands No1 was also culpable for Liverpool's 27th-minute equaliser, as Van der Sar dived low to punch an attempted clearance into the legs of Wes Brown who was powerless to prevent the ball rolling into the visitors' net. United lost midfielder Michael Carrick to an ankle injury at half-time, and then the game in the 78th minute as Babel – recently introduced for Albert Riera – turned in a Kuyt pass after Javier Mascherano had shown persistence to rob Ryan Giggs on the byline. United's day got worse when Nemanja Vidić was sent off in the 89th minute.

Terry dismissed
Liverpool are unbeaten on ten points along with Chelsea following the Blues' 3-1 win at Manchester City FC. Brazil forward Robinho took just 13 minutes to make his mark on English football following his surprise switch from Real Madrid CF, curling in a free-kick, but from then on it was all about the visitors as Ricardo Carvalho (16), Frank Lampard (53) and Nicolas Anelka (69) secured the points for Chelsea, who lost captain John Terry to a red card on 77.

Adebayor hat-trick
Arsenal have nine points after winning 4-0 at Blackburn Rovers FC, Togolese marksman Emmanuel Adebayor scoring a hat-trick after Robin van Persie's early opener, while Gianfrano Zola's first match in charge of West Ham United FC ended in a 3-2 defeat at West Bromwich Albion FC. Hull City FC (away to managerless Newcastle United FC), Fulham FC (home to Bolton Wanderers FC) and Portsmouth FC (home to Middlesbrough FC) all won 2-1, as Wigan Athletic FC-Sunderland AFC finished 1-1.