Premier League Weekend Round-Up

Ten-man Manchester City produced a remarkable comeback to secure victory while Wayne Rooney scored at both ends as Manchester United also won and Chelsea delivered another statement of intent at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal suffered a shock loss, Raheem Sterling made sure of his place in Liverpool folklore by securing a much-needed win at Anfield, a spectacular Emerson Boyce goal could not prevent Wigan Athletic suffering defeat, Mark Noble scored twice as West Ham United won, and Aston Villa’s problems increased.

Edin Dzeko was Manchester City’s hero as the defending Premier League champions came from a goal down with a man deficit to stun West Bromwich Albion in a 2-1 win at The Hawthorns.

City were rocked by the loss of James Milner to a straight red card in the first half after the midfielder was dismissed for the first time in his career for a foul on Shane Long in a goalscoring position.

The defending champions still did well but fell behind in the 67th minute, when Long scored by taking advantage of Joleon Lescott’s attempt to play offside.

But substitute Dzeko came to City’s rescue with an equaliser to prevent them from suffering a first Premier League defeat of the season after Ben Foster failed to deal with Carlos Tevez’s free-kick in the 80th minute.

Dzeko then made sure he was the star of the show when sparking mass celebrations in the away fans by converting a winning counter-attack in the second minute of added time before the final whistle.

Rooney scored at both ends as Manchester United won 4-2 against Stoke City at Old Trafford.

The striker’s 11th minute own goal, 10 years on from his first goal in the Premier League, gave Stoke a surprise lead.

Tony Pulis’ visitors then dominated but England’s goalscorer in midweek against Poland, Rooney, made up for his earlier error before half-time by heading in the excellent Robin van Persie’s fine cross.

Provider then turned scorer in the 44th minute as Van Persie finished, angling his body to make it look easy, from close-range courtesy of Antonio Valencia’s pass from the right.

Stoke’s defending from crosses did not improve immediately after half-time as Rooney was offered far too much space to find Danny Welbeck, who made no mistake with his header.

United appeared to be cruising but then some wretched defending, particularly from Rio Ferdinand, allowed Michael Kightly to run 40 yards with the ball before finishing to give Stoke a lifeline. However, Rooney’s 200th goal in club football ended any nerves at Old Trafford.

Juan Mata’s superb second-half brace helped Chelsea overcome the absence of suspended captain John Terry and strengthened their grip at the top of the Premier League in a six-goal, London derby, lunchtime thriller against Tottenham Hotspur.

It turned into an unhappy reunion with his former club for Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas, who was unceremoniously axed by the Blues back in March, as the hosts hit back from going a goal down to lead early in the second period, only to eventually succumb 4-2 at White Hart Lane.

Gary Cahill’s wonderful volley opened the scoring but former Chelsea player William Gallas drew Tottenham level before Jermain Defoe gave the home side the lead.

Mata, though, took over and scored twice before also setting up Daniel Sturridge in injury time before the final whistle for Chelsea’s fourth.

Arsenal suffered their second Premier League defeat in three matches as they slumped to a surprise loss at previously winless Norwich City in the evening kick-off.

The Gunners, who had Jack Wilshere back on their bench as an unused substitute after longstanding injury problems, lost to Grant Holt’s 19th minute goal and the result was not unfair.

It was Norwich’s first three-point haul under manager Chris Hughton following his summer appointment and it could not be argued they did not deserve the result.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have now dropped six points out of the last nine having suffered defeat by Chelsea before the win over West Ham prior to the international break.

Liverpool won just their third Premier League game at Anfield in 2012 after defeating Reading 1-0.

Brendan Rodgers saw his Liverpool team dominate from kick-off against one of his former sides and they got their reward in the 29th minute when Sterling latched on to Luiz Suarez’s pass before finishing in style to become the second youngest scorer in his club’s history behind Michael Owen.

It was a nervy conclusion for Liverpool as Reading applied some pressure but the home team held on for the points.

West Ham came out on top of Southampton in an eventful second half at Upton Park as Sam Allardyce’s team won 4-1.

After a goalless first half, West Ham scored twice in two minutes shortly after the interval as first a Mark Noble free-kick, with James Collins causing a distraction in the box, found its way into the back of the net.

Kevin Nolan then made it 2-0 shortly after when finishing a low cross at the back post from Yossi Benayoun, who was making his first start in his second spell at West Ham.

Southampton pulled one back in the 63rd minute when Adam Lallana stylishly finished on the turn inside the penalty area.

The recovery, though, was short-lived after Noble’s 72nd minute penalty and Modibo Maiga’s eye-catching 87th minute effort made sure of the points for West Ham.

Wigan suffered what could prove to be a costly 2-1 defeat by Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium as Roberto Martinez did not enjoy a return to his former club.

Pablo Hernandez’s 65th minute goal broke the deadlock after what had been a forgettable encounter up to that point.

But it was worth the wait for the goal after the Spaniard finished a clever team move when turning on the edge of the box.

Swansea then made it two in the 67th minute when Miguel Michu headed in at a corner, however, the deficit was halved two minutes later when Emerson Boyce produced a sensational, mid-air backheel to pull one back for Wigan. It proved to only be a consolation.

Aston Villa’s uninspiring start to the season continued as they suffered a 1-0 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage.

In what was an uneventful encounter in London, Chris Baird’s scrappy winner when poking in a corner in the 84th minute epitomised how Villa’s season has been unfolding.

An own goal from Demba Ba denied 10-man Newcastle a derby victory at Sunderland on a dramatic afternoon.

The Senegal striker was unlucky as John O’Shea’s 85th-minute header hit him and sailed past helpless keeper Tim Krul.

But it was a deserved point for the Black Cats at home after they had made the most of Cheick Tiote’s 25th-minute dismissal for a studs-up challenge on Steven Fletcher.

The point lifts Newcastle above Liverpool into 11th place. Sunderland stay below them in 14th.

Queens Park Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Everton.

QPR went ahead inside two minutes thanks to a Junior Hoilett effort. The former Blackburn Rovers star’s run, which started in his own half, was followed up by a powerful shot, which took a deflection off Leighton Baines to give the home side the lead.

Everton came back into the game and in the 33rd minute the Toffees were level.

Steven Pienaar whipped in a free kick which Sylvian Distin headed against the post, only for the ball to hit Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar and go in.

Pienaar was sent off early in the second half, which encouraged the home side to push on. However, resolute defending from Everton means QPR remain bottom with only three points from eight games while Everton stay fourth.