Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge were both on target as Liverpool returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League following a comfortable home victory against Crystal Palace, while Newcastle United and Fulham edged narrow victories against Cardiff City and Stoke City respectively.
Palace went to Liverpool in search of their first away victory of the campaign but the club who earned promotion to the top flight via the play-offs last season, and now find themselves second from bottom, were undone by three first-half strikes. Suarez marked his first match back at Anfield since completing his 10-match suspension with his third goal in two top-flight appearances and on 17 minutes the Reds were two goals to the good, thanks to Sturridge’s strike.
Steven Gerrard then took the opportunity to score his 99th Barclays Premier League goal from the penalty spot after a foul by Dean Moxey on Raheem Sterling, and although the Eagles netted a second-half consolation goal through Dwight Gayle, Liverpool held on for the win that takes them a point clear at the summit from Arsenal, who travel to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
In the evening kick-off Manchester United suffered a scare at Sunderland after falling behind to Craig Gardner's fifth-minute opener, but after a crucial save by David de Gea kept the defending champions in the match, Adnan Januzaj, an 18-year-old academy graduate, scored two wonderful goals in six second-half minutes, to seal a 2-1 win for David Moyes's side, who had lost their last two top-flight matches.
Earlier in the day, Manchester City also came from behind to win, beating Everton 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Alvaro Negredo’s instant equaliser cancelled out Romelu Lukaku's opening strike and after Sergio Aguero made it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time, City completed their win when Aguero's penalty struck Tim Howard's post and rebounded in off the goalkeeper's back.
Loic Remy also scored twice to ensure Newcastle United returned to winning ways at Cardiff City. The Frenchman struck for the visitors on 30 and 38 minutes and although Peter Odemwingie reduced the arrears for Malky Mackay's team, the Magpies ended their own run of back-to-back defeats with a morale-boosting away triumph.
Fulham also gained a long-awaited league victory by edging a close-fought contest with Stoke City. Darren Bent’s winner seven minutes from time earned Martin Jol’s side their first success since the opening match of the season.
Elsewhere, Hull City and Aston Villa shared a goalless draw at the KC Stadium.
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FT Manchester City 3-1 Everton | #MCIEVE | Matchday Live >>
FT Cardiff City 1-2 Newcastle United | #CARNEW | Matchday Live >>
FT Fulham 1-0 Stoke City | #FULSTK | Matchday Live >>
FT Hull City 0-0 Aston Villa | #HULAVL | Matchday Live >>
FT Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace | #LIVCRY | Matchday Live >>
Sunderland 1-2 Manchester United | #SUNMUN | Matchday Live >>
