Gareth Bale scored one goal and set up another as Tottenham beat Manchester United for the first time in 23 Premier League matches with a thrilling 3-2 win yesterday.
Spurs’ first victory at Old Trafford since December 1989 saw them twice go two goals in front, with the teams sharing three goals in as many minutes during a frantic spell before the hour mark.
United’s first home defeat in 2012 meant Alex Ferguson’s side ended the weekend in third place – four points behind leaders Chelsea – while Tottenham climbed to fifth.
Just 90 seconds had been played when Spurs’ defender Jan Vertonghen burst into the box and fired the visitors in front with a low shot that deflected off Jonny Evans.
In the 32nd minute they were 2-0 up when Bale, from just inside the United half, outpaced Rio Ferdinand before his shot beat Anders Lindegaard.
United pulled a goal back in the 51st minute when substitute Wayne Rooney provided a cross for Nani to steer past Brad Friedel.
But two minutes later Jermain Defoe left the struggling Ferdinand behind him and found Bale.
The Welshman’s shot was palmed away by Lindegaard but only to Clint Dempsey, with the United States striker shooting into the empty net.
However, United cut the lead to 3-2 moments later when, after a superb pass from Robin van Persie, Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa slotted home.
Rooney hit the post and Michael Carrick’s header came off the crossbar as United pressed for an equaliser but Spurs held on for a famous victory.
Chelsea remained top as Juan Mata starred in a 2-1 win away to London rivals Arsenal.
They are three points ahead of Everton whose promising early season form continued with a 3-1 win over Southampton.
Unsurprisingly, Chelsea captain John Terry endured taunts from Arsenal fans after this week’s FA verdict that he was guilty of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League match last October.
But Terry had the last laugh as visitors Chelsea, unbeaten in the league this season, handed the Gunners their first league defeat of the campaign.
Chelsea took the lead in the 20th minute at the Emirates Stadium when Spain striker Fernando Torres volleyed in Mata’s free-kick.
Arsenal equalised in the 42nd minute when Ivory Coast forward Gervinho turned in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross.
But Mata put the European champions back in front as the Spanish midfielder’s 53rd-minute curling free-kick glanced in off Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.
Brendan Rodgers enjoyed his first Premier League win as Liverpool manager, with Luis Suarez scoring his second hat-trick in as many seasons at Carrow Road during a 5-2 win at Norwich that took the Reds out of the bottom three.
“The team was outstanding,” said Rodgers. “I’m not surprised because in a lot of our games we have played well and created a host of chances.”
Nikica Jelavic scored twice for Everton after Southampton went 1-0 up through record signing Gaston Ramirez’s first goal for the club.
Reigning champions Manchester City came from behind to win 2-1 at Fulham, with substitute Edin Dzeko scoring the winner on 87 minutes.
Mladen Petric gave Fulham a 10th-minute lead from the penalty spot before Sergio Aguero drew City level in the 43rd minute.
“I was worried because we continued to play well and continued to create chances, but didn’t score (the second goal) for 87 minutes,” Mancini admitted.
Results and standings
Premier League
Arsenal 1
Gervinho 43;
Chelsea 2
Torres 20; Mata 53;
HT: 1-1. Att: 60,101.
Everton 3
Osman 25; Jelavic 32, 38;
Southampton 1
Ramirez 6;
HT: 3-1. Att: 33,000.
Fulham 1
Petric 10 pen;
Man. City 2
Aguero 43; Dzeko 87;
HT: 1-1. Att: 25,000.
Man. Utd 2
Nani 51; Kagawa 53;
Tottenham 3
Vertonghen 2; Bale 32; Dempsey 52;
HT: 0-2. Att: 75,566.
Norwich 2
Morison 61; Holt 87;
Liverpool 5
Suarez 2, 38, 57; Sahin 47; Gerrard 68;
HT: 0-2. Att: 26,831.
Reading 2
Kebe 58; Hunt 62;
Newcastle 2
Ba 59, 83;
HT: 0-0. Att: 24,000.
Stoke City 2
Crouch 12, 36;
Swansea 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 27,000.
Sunderland 1
Fletcher 51;
Wigan 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 37,742.
Red card: Gomez (W) 47.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Chelsea | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 16 |
| Everton | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 13 |
| Man. United | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 12 |
| Man. City | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 12 |
| Tottenham | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 11 |
| West Brom | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 10 |
| Arsenal | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 9 |
| Fulham | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 9 |
| Newcastle | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| West Ham | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 8 |
| Swansea | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Stoke | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Sunderland | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Liverpool | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 5 |
| Aston Villa | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Wigan | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 4 |
| Southampton | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 3 |
| Norwich | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 3 |
| Reading | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 2 |
| QPR | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 2 |
Playing today
Aston Villa vs West Brom - 17:00
Tomorrow
QPR vs West Ham - 21:00
Leading Scorers
6 goals: Ba (Newcastle).
5 goals: Van Persie (Man. United), Suarez (Liverpool), Fletcher (Sunderland).
4 goals: Michu (Swansea), Defoe (Tottenham), Lambert (Southampton), Crouch (Stoke).
Next fixtures
Saturday: 13.45 p.m. Manchester City vs Sunderland. 16.00 Chelsea vs Norwich; Swansea vs Reading; West Brom vs QPR; Wigan vs Everton. 18.30 West Ham vs Arsenal.
Sunday: 14.30 Southampton vs Fulham. 16.00 Liverpool vs Stoke; Tottenham vs Aston Villa. 17.00 Newcastle vs Manchester United.
The Championship
Barnsley 1 - Ipswich Town 1
Bolton 0 - Crystal Palace 1
Brighton 0 - Birmingham1
Bristol City 2 - Leeds 3
Burnley 2 - Millwall 2
Cardiff 3 - Blackpool 0
Charlton 1 - Blackburn 1
Huddersfield 2 - Watford 3
Hull City 1 - Peterborough 3
M’boro 1 - Leicester 2
Wolves 1 - Sheffield Wed. 0
Playing today
N. Forest vs Derby - 14:15
Standings: Brighton, Cardiff, Wolves 16; Blackburn, Leicester 15; Huddersfield 14; Blackpool, Hull, Leeds, C. Palace 13; M’Boro 12; Barnsley, Birmingham 11; Bristol City, N. Forest, Burnley, Bolton, Watford 10; Charlton 9; Derby 8; Sheffield Wed, Millwall 7; Ipswich 6; Peterborough 3.
League One
Bournemouth 1 - Walsall 2
Carlisle 0 - Crawley 2
Colchester 3 - Hartlepool 1
L. Orient 0 - Doncaster 2
MK Dons 1 - Crewe 0
Oldham 0 - Coventry 1
Portsmouth 2 - Scunthorpe 1
Preston 3 - Yeovil2
Sheffield Utd 1 - Notts County 1
Shrewsbury 0 - Swindon 1
Stevenage 2 - Bury 2
Tranmere 1 - Brentford 1
Standings: Tranmere 21; N. County 18; MK Dons, Swindon, Stevenage, Walsall 17; Crawley 16; Sheffield United 15; Preston, Doncaster 14; Brentford 13; Carlisle 12; Yeovil, L. Orient, Crewe Alexandra 10; Shrewsbury Town 9; Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Scun-thorpe United 8; Colchester 7; Oldham, Coventry, Hartlepool 6; Bury 4.
League Two
Wimbledon 1 - Accrington 2
Aldershot 0 - York 2
Bradford City 0 - Port Vale 1
Burton 3 - Northampton 3
Chesterfield 1 - Torquay 1
Dagenham 3 - Wycombe0
Exeter 1 - Bristol Rovers 2
Fleetwood 2 - Barnet 1
Gillingham 1 - Rochdale 2
Plymouth 1 - Southend 1
Rotherham 3 - Oxford 1
Standings: Gillingham 22; Port Vale 19; Fleetwood, Accrington 17; Exeter, Bradford 16; Rochdale, Cheltenham 15; Burton, Rotherham, Southend 14; York, Northampton 13; Chesterfield, Torquay 12; Plymouth 10; Oxford 9; Morecambe, Aldershot 8; Dagenham, Bristol Rovers, Wimbledon 7; Wycombe 4; Barnet 2.