Chelsea win derby as Everton rout Liverpool

Ryan Giggs steered Manchester United back to the top of the Premier League in a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, while champions Chelsea landed a 2-1 derby victory over bogey team Charlton Athletic yesterday.

On a disappointing day for two other title contenders, Liverpool were trounced 3-0 at Everton in the Merseyside derby and Arsenal had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at home with 10-man Middlesbrough.

It somehow finished 0-0 between Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers despite three penalties being awarded, Fulham left it late to beat Newcastle 2-1 and Gary Speed converted a stoppage time penalty to give Bolton Wanderers a 1-0 win over Watford.

Man. United made it four wins from four games in the day's late kick-off, opening up a two-point lead over Portsmouth, whose remarkable start continued with a 1-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

Man. United and Spurs both had clearcut chances in an open game at Old Trafford.

However, the only man to score was Giggs, who headed in the loose ball after a free-kick by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was palmed upwards by England keeper Paul Robinson in the ninth minute.

Charlton, the only side to deny Chelsea a home league win last season and who also dumped them out of the League Cup, were constantly on the back foot after Didier Drogba gave the champions a sixth-minute lead.

But Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, a close season signing from Middles-brough after being a Chelsea man from 2000-04, took advantage of some lax defending to equalise in the 54th minute.

Chelsea, whose fans had been singing the Dutchman's name before kick-off at Stamford Bridge, gave a big welcome soon afterwards for left back Ashley Cole, making his debut as a substitute after his move from Arsenal.

There was more to celebrate in the 63rd minute when Carvalho's header from a Frank Lampard corner was deflected in for Chelsea's winner, while Charlton had a Marcus Bent effort disallowed for handball.

The visitors had better luck in the closing stages when keeper Scott Carson pulled off a brilliant save to deny Lampard with a penalty on a bad day for spot-kicks.

"We should have been 2-0 or 3-0 up at the end of the first half and with the game in our pocket," Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports News.

"But the reality was 1-0 and that in the second half they were stronger than us and they equalised - they deserved that.

"We went 2-1 up and had the chance to kill the game with a penalty and we couldn't.

"After that, they were stronger than us again and if they'd scored a late goal, it wouldn't have been a big surprise."

Defensive blunders were to blame for Liverpool's downfall, with Australia midfielder Tim Cahill opening the scoring for Everton and England striker Andrew Johnson scoring twice.

They lie third in the table on 10 points, just behind a Portsmouth side who have yet to concede a goal and whose Zimbabwean striker Ben-jamin Mwaruwari got yesterday's winner.

Arsenal were trailing to a 22nd strike by James Morrison and only made the breakthrough after a red card for Boro midfielder George Boateng in the 64th minute.

Three minutes later, Henry converted a penalty for a foul by England winger Stewart Downing on defender Emmanuel Eboue but Arsenal's intense pressure failed to deliver a winner.

Arsene Wenger's side are now a lowly 17th in the table, with just two points from three games.