Reading striker Adam Le Fondre scored a brace to help his side record a 2-1 win against Everton, their first league win of the season.
This weekend’s Premier League fixtures kicked-off at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal hammered arch-rivals Tottenham 5-2 in the early kick-off.
The visitors took the lead on ten minutes, former-Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor scoring from close-range after Wojciech Szczesny had pushed the ball away.
The Togo striker went from hero to villain in the 18th minute, as he was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla.
The Gunners were back on level terms in the 24th minute through a powerful header from defender Per Mertesacker.
The Gunners took the lead three minutes before the interval, Lukas Podolski’s effort deflecting off William Gallas and squirming into the goal. The Gunners extended their lead before half-time, French striker Oliver Giroud firing home low, after a superb run and cross from Cazorla.
Cazorla made it four in the 60th minute from close-range. Welsh winger Gareth Bale got a goal back in the 71st minute, after a superb solo run. Theo Walcott fired home the Gunners fifth in injury-time to give the home side a convincing victory.
At Loftus Road, Southampton claimed a priceless 3-1 victory over QPR. The Saints took the lead in the 23rd minute, striker Rickie Lambert heading home from close-range. The visitors were two goals up on the stroke of half-time, Jason Puncheon curling home an effort from the edge of the box.
The home side got back in the game in the 49th minute, Junior Hoilett heading home from Adel Taarabt. However, Southampton wrapped up the points in the 83rd minute, Anton Ferdinand turning an Adam Lallana cross past his own keeper.
Reading picked up their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory over high-flying Everton at the Madejski. The visitors took the lead on ten minutes, Scottish international Steven Naismith scoring from inside the area, after poor defending from the Royals defence.
Brian McDermott’s side rallied in the second half though and got their reward in the 51st minute. Striker Adam Le Fondre headed home Nicky Shorey’s cross. The Royals won a penalty in the 79th minute, Seamus Coleman fouling Le Fondre in the area.
The striker got up and scored the penalty himself. The home side had to withstand late pressure from Everton, but they held on to maximum points and the victory took them out of the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, champions Manchester City hammered Aston Villa 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium. Spanish midfielder David Silva gave City the lead from close-range just before the break. City were awarded a penalty in the 54th minute, Andreas Weimann was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area.
Argentinian Sergio Aguero made no mistake with the resulting spot kick. City were awarded another penalty kick in the 65th minute, this time Barry Bannan was penalised for handball. This time Carlos Tevez took the resulting kick and made it three for the champions.
Two minutes later City added their fourth, Sergio Aguero’s low effort beating Brad Guzan in the Villa goal. Tevez completed the rout on 74 minutes, the Argentinian tapping home from a low cross from Samir Nasri.
West Brom continued their good home form with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Hawthorns. The Baggies took the lead in the 10th minute, striker Shane Long heading home James Morrison’s cross. The visitors were level on 39 minutes; midfielder Eden Hazard’s header from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross deflecting off Billy Jones before finding the net.
The Baggies were back in front just after half-time. Long crossed for Peter Odemwingie to head home for the home side. The victory moved Steve Clarke’s team into the top four of the Premier League.
Liverpool secured a rare home victory by comfortably defeating Wigan 3-0 at Anfield. The first half was goalless, but the Reds did take the lead early in the second half. Liverpool took the lead through a powerfully struck Luis Suarez effort from Raheem Sterling’s pull-back.
Suarez had his brace on 58 minutes. The Uruguayan got onto a Jose Enrique through-ball and lifted the ball over Latics keeper Ali Al-Habsi. The scoring was complete in the 65th minute, Jose Enrique reacting quickly to a parry by Al-Habsi from a Sterling shot, and scoring from close-range.
Swansea claimed a very creditable 2-1 victory at Newcastle. The Swans took the lead in the 58th minute. Pablo Hernandez crossed for compatriot Michu to head past Tim Krul. With just three minutes left Jonathan De Guzman fired high into the net, after Krul had parried Danny Graham’s shot.
Demba Ba headed a consolation goal for the Magpies, but it was too little too late for the home team. The victory moved the Swans above Newcastle in the table to 10th place in the Premier League.
In the late kick-off Norwich shocked Manchester United 1-0 at Carrow Road. The only goal of the game came in the 60th minute. Javier Garrido’s cross was headed superbly past Anders Lindegaard by former-United youth team player Anthony Pilkington.
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