The potent attack partnership of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge failed to impress at the Emirates as Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0.
English Premier League
The hosts had the first chance when Tomas Rosicky was sent clear into the penalty area but his shot from the right was saved by Simon Mignolet. Jordan Henderson then had a chance at the other end when he managed to run into the box unopposed but scuffed his shot with only the keeper to beat. The Gunners took the lead on 19 minutes through Santi Cazorla whose powerful header from Bacary Sagna’s cross from the right hit the upright but the Spaniard volleyed in the rebound. Suarez was fouled by Sagna on the left and the Uruguayan wasted no time in taking the free kick when he released Sturridge down the flank. He crossed for Henderson for an easy tap in but the referee quite wrongfully pulled back play. Aaron Ramsey had the chance to double the lead before the break but his shot was saved by Mignolet. Henderson blasted one over from close range after the restart when he was found by Suarez. Kolo Toure lost possession to Olivier Giroud but the Frenchman failed to punish the mistake when he chipped the ball over Mignolet but wide of the goal. Ramsey made it two to the good when he hit a dipping shot from 20 yards out. Toure again was culpable as he did not close down, allowing the Welshman time and space to get his shot away. Suarez hit the outside of the post as Liverpool went on the attack but had Mignolet to thank for denying Mesut Ozil a goal. Suarez missed another chance to pull one back as Liverpool left London empty handed.
Chelsea started November in their traditional hapless fashion as they lost 2-0 away at Newcastle United. The Blues though dominated the 1st half but had no goals to show for their efforts. The Magpies had the crossbar to thank on 13 minutes on two occasions in quick succession when John Terry headed Juan Mata’s corner against it after which Fernando Torres’ deflected rebound also hit the woodwork. Yohan Cabaye and Moussa Sissoko tested Petr Cech as the hosts gradually came into the game and must have surely gone into the break quite relieved. The hosts went on the offensive but Cech was on hand to deny Sissoko and Loic Remy. Yoan Gouffran was then denied by Cech but the Frenchman scored 3 minutes later when his diving header from Cabaye’s long free kick found the back of the net. Tim Krul and Mathieu Debuchy combined to deny the visitors two scoring opportunities and after Eden Hazard shot agonisingly wide for the Londoners, Remy settled the nerves when he finished past Cech from Vurnon Anita’s pull back on 89 minutes.
Manchester United scored 3 goals in the opening 22 minutes as they beat Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage. Pajtim Kasami had the first chance for the Cottagers but his low drive was saved by David De Gea. United took the lead on 9 minutes when Robin Van Persie’s through ball was met by Wayne Rooney who squared the ball for Antonio Valencia inside the box for an easy tap in. Scott Parker sent Dimitar Berbatov through with a defence splitting ball but Rafael did just enough to poke the ball away from the Bulgarian who about to pull the trigger. It was quite a costly opportunity to have missed as Van Persie after having been sent through by Adnan Januzaj powered home at the near post with a thunderous effort on 20 minutes. The goal was highly contentious as Januzaj looked to have fouled Parker and Van Persie looked to have been offside. Rooney made it 3-0 two minutes later when he tapped in Van Persie’s pass from the right. He had another chance to increase the score line but found the side netting from a corner. Fulham looked to get into the game in the 2nd period and got a rather fortuitous one when Alexander Kacaniklic’s shot was deflected into his own net by Rooney. Januzaj and substitute Adel Taarabt had penalty appeals denied at either end after which Fulham had several chances. Darren Bent hit the crossbar with a header and Taarabt drew a save from De Gea with Kieran Richardson heading wide from close range. Sascha Riether stamped on Januzaj’s foot in the dying minutes of the game but escaped punishment. The FA however has charged the German with violent conduct and he may well face retrospective action.
Manchester City ran riot at the Etihad Stadium as they thrashed Norwich City 7-0 with 7 different scorers getting on the score sheet. Bradley Johnson was unfortunate to score an own goal on 16 minutes but that sparked a wave of efforts and goals from the hosts. David Silva made it 2-0 four minutes later and Matija Nastasic’s header five minutes later made it three. Alvaro Negredo scored in the 36th minute to make it four. Yaya Toure scored a brilliant free kick on the hour mark to make it five. Sergio Aguero also got on the score sheet eleven minutes later and Edin Dzeko completed the rout four minutes from time.
Everton hosted Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park and the game ended goalless. Carlos Cuellar scored an own goal as Sunderland lost 1-0 away at Hull City. Lee Cattermole and Andrea Dossena were sent off for the Black Cats. Asmir Begovic scored a miraculous goal as his clearance beat his opposite number 1 Artur Boruc in goal after just 13 seconds but Jay Rodriguez equalised for Southampton as they drew 1-1 away at Stoke City. Saido Berahino and Gareth McAuley scored for West Bromwich Albion as they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at the Hawthorns. Steven Caulker scored the only goal of the game as Cardiff City beat Swansea City in the Welsh derby. Michel Vorm was sent off for the Swans in injury time.
Spanish La Liga
Alexis Sanchez scored the only goal as Barcelona beat Espanyol 1-0 at the Nou Camp. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace with Karim Benzema also scoring as Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 away. Real were 3-0 up after 48 minutes but had to hold on as Jonathan Viera scored two penalties in 2 minutes to bring the hosts back into the game. David Villa and Diego Costa scored for Atletico Madrid as they beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home. Valencia beat Getafe 1-0 away while Villarreal beat Elche 1-0 away.
German Bundesliga
Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Hoffenheim 2-1 away thanks to goals from Mario Mandzukic and Thomas Muller after Niklas Sule had given the hosts the lead. Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick as Borussia Dortmund thrashed Stuttgart 6-1 at the Signal Iduna Park. Bayer Leverkusen were beaten 1-0 away at Eintracht Braunschweig while Borussia Monchengladbach beat Hamburg 2-0 away and Wolfsburg beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 away with Schalke beating Hertha Berlin 2-0 in the German capital.
Italian Serie A
AS Roma’s perfect start to the campaign was ended by Torino as the league leaders were held to a 1-1 draw away in Turin. Paul Pogba scored the solitary goal as reigning champions Juventus beat Parma 1-0 away. Napoli beat Catania 2-1 at home while Inter Milan beat Udinese 3-0 away and AC Milan lost 2-0 at home against Fiorentina.
French Ligue 1
Edinson Cavani scored a brace as Paris Saint-Germain beat Lorient 4-0 at home. Lille beat AS Monaco 2-0 at home while Stade Rennes held Marseille to a 1-1 draw at home and Lyon beat Guingamp 1-0 at home.
Dutch Eredivisie
Ajax Amsterdam 0-1 Vitesse Arnhem
AZ Alkmaar 2-0 ADO Den Haag
Twente Enschede 2-2 NEC Nijmegen
PSV Eindhoven 1-1 PEC Zwolle
Cambuur Leeuwarden 0-2 Feyenoord Rotterdam
Portuguese Liga
Academica de Coimbra 0-3 Benfica
Belenenses 1-1 FC Porto
Sporting Lisbon 3-2 Maritimo
Braga 0-1 Rio Ave
Gil Vicente 1-0 Guimaraes
Scottish Premiership
Celtic 1-1 Dundee United
Aberdeen 4-0 Partick Thistle
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-1 Kilmarnock
Motherwell 1-0 Hibernian
Heart of Midlothian 0-2 St Johnstone
