Bolton 2 – 3 Liverpool
Liverpool twice came from a goal down at the Reebok to claim all three points against 10-man Bolton. Liverpool were guilty of some poor defending for Bolton’s opening goal, failing to deal with a corner that was fired home from close range by Kevin Davies. Rafa Benitez’s side responded well to going behind, first Torres missed a decent opportunity before Glen Johnson continued his fine form since moving from Portsmouth with the equaliser. Bolton retook the lead early in the second half thanks to the second most famous Israeli at the Reebok Tamir Cohen. The sending off of Sean Davis for two bookable offences turned the game again and a minute after the red card Fernando Torres finished after a great touch off from Kuyt. Seven minutes from time the Reds took the lead as, from a corner, Steven Gerrard smashed home the winner from the edge of the area.
Chelsea 3 – 0 Burnley
Chelsea dominated an open first half at Stamford Bridge against Burnley, the breakthrough came seconds before the break as Didier Drogba fired in a cross finished by both Clark Carlisle and Nicolas Anelka. The home side were scintillating early in the second half, Michael Ballack headed home from a Lampard cross two minutes after the break for the second and Ashley Cole volleyed into the top corner following another assist from Lampard for the third.
Man United 2-1 Arsenal
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger accused Manchester United of systematically fouling his side during the match, but then again, he would, wouldn’t he? Darren Fletcher missed an early chance for United, pulling a shot left of England hopeful Manuel Almunia’s goal on nine minutes. At the other end Arsenal were also creating chances, Andrei Arshavin flashing a shot narrowly over Ben Foster’s bar. Wayne Rooney fired a free-kick off target as the match flowed from end-to-end, before Andrei Arshavin silenced Old Trafford with an unstoppable howitzer into the top corner five minutes from the break. The Gunners were denied a second at the start of the second half as Ben Foster produced a top class save to stop van Persie’s close-range effort. With Fergie’s boys dangling on the ropes Wayne Rooney proved the Reds saviour, Almunia clattered into the forward in the box an from the resulting penalty Rooney drew United level. Six minutes later, and after RVP had hit the bar, the unlikely United comeback was complete as Abou Diaby managed to head a Giggs free-kick into his own net. The match ended in a farce as, after RVP had a 94th minute goal ruled out for offside, ref Mike Dean decided to send off Arsene Wenger who reacted in pantomime fashion by retreating to the United stands.
Tottenham 2-1 Birmingham City
Aaron Lennon scored in the fifth minute of injury time to maintain Spurs’ 100% start to the season. Big Peter Crouch came on to score his first League goal for Spurs in the second half and after Lee Bowyer took advantage of sloppy defending to claim an equaliser three minutes later, Aaron Lennon maintained Spurs’ 100 per cent start to the season. It wasn’t all good news for Spurs as Luka Modric limped off just seconds after the restart.
Stoke 1 – 0 Sunderland
That man Dave Kitson bagged his second goal in as many games with a scrappy effort from a corner, earning the Potters another three points.
Wolves 1 – 1 Hull
An early header from the legendary Geovanni put Hull into the lead, but a second-half goal from Wolves defender Richard Stearman ensured the points were shared.
Blackburn 0 – 0 West Ham
Horrid. Blackburn were left ruing a glaring miss by young David Hoilett as West Ham ground out a draw at Ewood Park.
Portsmouth 0 – 1 Manchester City
That’s 4 games and no goals for Pompey. Oh deary me. For all of Man City’s billions, the Arabian playthings were only able to break the deadlock at Fratton Park in the most ordinary fashion with Emmanuel Adebayor heading home a Barry corner on the half hour. City were denied a second from Micah Richards as the linesman flagged for a questionable offside. Mark Hughes has praised striker Emmanuel Adebayor and believes he has put his ‘bad boy’ reputation behind him, but then again, he would, wouldn’t he?
Everton 2 – 1 Wigan
Everton’s crap start to the new season looked like continuing when, 10 minutes into the second half, Paul Scharner produced one of the lowest diving headers in history to meet a Charles N’Zogbia cross at the back stick. The Toffees rallied on the hour though, Louis Saha heading home a corner despite being surrounding by three Wigan defenders. Then, in injury time at the death, Leighton Baines struck home a penalty to give Everton a much-needed three points.
Aston Villa 2 – 0 Fulham
Villa took the lead early on when John Paintsil got the final touch to an inswinging corner from Ashley Young. Martin O’Neill’s boys doubled their advantage on the hour, young Gabi Agbonlahor picking up the ball in midfield, heading towards goal, and unleashing a thunderbolt past Schwarzer.
Increasingly middle-aged and increasingly disillusioned by modern football, I want to share with you how good football used to be before it was ruined by money. 
