Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season yesterday as a dramatic injury time fightback saw a Wayne Rooney-less Manchester United throw away victory at Everton.
Two goals from Michael Essien and a Salomon Kalou strike helped the Blues to a 3-1 win over West Ham at Upton Park as Carlo Ancelotti’s men preserved their two-point lead at the top of the table.
Manchester United missed the chance to keep the pressure on Chelsea after Everton scored twice in stoppage time to scramble a 3-3 draw against Alex Ferguson’s men in the early game at Goodison Park, yesterday.
United had appeared to be cruising to victory after goals from Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov had cancelled out Steven Pienaar’s first half opener.
However, a late header from Tim Cahill and a shot from Mikel Arteta gave Everton an improbable share of the points to leave United four points behind Chelsea – and Ferguson fuming.
“Football can do that to you,” Ferguson said.
“In a game of a completely comfortable position we’ve thrown it away – simple as that. We had chances to bury Everton and we didn’t do it.”
Arsenal stayed in touch at the top with a 4-1 rout of 10-man Bolton at the Emirates, with summer signings Laurent Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh both getting on the scoresheet for Arsene Wenger’s side.
Koscielny had fired the Gunners into a 1-0 lead on 24 minutes but the Wanderers hit back through Johan Elmander on the stroke of half-time after good work by South Korea international Lee Chong-Yong.
Moroccan international Chamakh restored Arsenal’s lead, however, capitalising on good work from skipper Cesc Fabregas.
Bolton’s task was made harder when Gary Cahill was given a straight red card for a wild lunge on Chamakh before goals from Alex Song and Carlos Vela sealed the points.
At Eastlands, Manchester City’s faltering form continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackburn Rovers.
A dreadful mix-up between England goalkeeper Joe Hart and Kolo Toure saw City fall behind, Nikola Kalinic sneaking in to put Blackburn 1-0 up.
However, City got back on level terms early in the second half when former French international Patrick Vieira netted a vital equaliser for Roberto Mancini’s multi-millionaires.
Blackpool earned their second victory of the season – and second away from home – with a 2-0 defeat of Newcastle at St James’ Park.
A Charlie Adam penalty and a late goal on the counter from DJ Campbell helped Ian Holloway’s Tangerines to all three points.
Gyan debut
Ghanaian international Asamoah Gyan saw his Sunderland career get off to a dream start as he rose from the substitutes bench to rifle in the opener at Wigan before Antolin Alcaraz earned a 1-1 draw for the home side.
Gyan, a 13-million-pound signing from Rennes, volleyed home a Jordan Henderson cross for the Black Cats, who recovered from the first-half dismissal of Lee Cattermole to thwart the Latics.
Tottenham handed new signing Rafael van der Vaart a debut at the Hawthorns but were held 1-1 by West Bromwich Albion.
Luka Modric put Spurs 1-0 up but departed injured after 32 minutes before Chris Brunt levelled for the Baggies.
Two goals from Moussa Dembele helped Fulham fight back from 1-0 down to secure a 2-1 victory over Wolves at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers were rocked by a 10th-minute goal from Wolves defender Jelle Van Damme before Belgian forward Dembele struck in the 49th and 90th minutes to give Mark Hughes’s team their first win of the season.
Fixtures
Today: Birmingham-Liverpool - 17:00
Tomorrow: Stoke-Aston Villa - 21:00
Leading Scorers
4 goals Carroll (Newcastle); Drogba (Chelsea); Malouda (Chelsea); Walcott (Arsenal)
3 goals Berbatov (Man. United); Elmander (Bolton); Gardner (Birmingham); Kalou (Chelsea).
Next Fixtures
Saturday: 13.45 - Stoke vs West Ham. 16.00 - Aston Villa vs Bolton; Blackburn vs Fulham; Everton vs Newcastle; Tottenham vs Wolves; West Brom vs Birmingham. 18.30 - Sunderland vs Arsenal.
Sunday: 14.30 - Manchester United vs Liverpool. 16.00 - Wigan vs Manchester City. 17.00 - Chelsea vs Blackpool.