Liverpool has lectured United at Anfield, Tottenham lost Gareth Bale and bowed to Arsenal.

Liverpool 1 Manchester United 0:United still trying to get used to the new manager

David Moyes taking charge of United for the first time at Anfield was without striker Wayne Rooney, who was ruled out of the match after suffering a clash of heads in training yesterday.

And a below par United fell behind early on as Sturridge headed in from close range, after latching onto Daniel Agger’s header.

The away side’s best chance to draw level came with only three minutes remaining, however Robin Van Persie, from close range, could only fire wide.

Imminent signings Mamadou Sakho, Tiago Ilori and Victor Moses were in the crowd at Anfield and saw their future employers make a fantastic start.

In-form Sturridge was once again the man of the moment as Liverpool took the lead inside four minutes thanks to some great skill from the England striker.

Liverpool defender Agger headed Steven Gerrard’s delivery from a corner towards goal and Sturridge, evading Patrice Evra and with his back to the net, was on hand to flick the ball past David De Gea.

Van Persie attempted to bring United level within two minutes of falling behind, however his overhead kick went well over Simon Mignolet’s crossbar.

Danny Welbeck registered his side’s first attempt on target in the 10th minute with a 20-yard effort that was comfortably held by Mignolet.

Liverpool were much the better side in the first-half and Moyes’ men became increasing frustrated by the lack of penetration in the final third.

Philippe Coutinho and Gerrard saw efforts stopped by De Gea, before the match threatened to boil over just minutes prior to the half-time break.

Van Persie, already on a booking, clashed with Martin Skrtel, but referee Andre Marriner decided not to produce a second yellow card to the irate Manchester United striker.

United started the second-half in determined fashion with Ashley Young’s well struck half-volley from the edge of the penalty box blocked by Glen Johnson.

Ryan Giggs near post header was comfortably stopped by Mignolet, as the away side struggled to conjure a significant clear cut chance.

Substitute Nani, who replaced Young just after the hour mark, provided Mignolet with his toughest test of the afternoon as the Belgian international could only parry his powerful 20-yard strike.

United’s best chance of the match fell to Van Persie, but the Dutchman could only fire wide of the target from close range after being slipped in by Javier Hernandez.

Raheem Sterling nearly added a second for the Reds in stoppage time, however De Gea tipped his effort over the crossbar.

With the victory Brendan Rodgers’ side continued their perfect start to the new season and will remain top of the table unless Tottenham better their result at Arsenal later today.

Liverpool vs Manchester United Match Stats

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet 6; Johnson 6 (Wisdom 78, 5), Agger 7, Skrtel 7, Enrique 6; Henderson 7, Lucas 6, Gerrard 7; Aspas 6 (Sterling 60, 6), Sturridge 7, Coutinho 8 (Alberto 84).

Subs not used: Jones, Ibe, Kelly, Flanagan.

Scorer: Sturridge 4

Booked: Aspas

MAN UNITED: De Gea 6; Jones 5 (Valencia 37, 6), Ferdinand 7, Vidic 6, Evra 6; Carrick 5, Cleverley 7; Young 5 (Nani 62, 6), Welbeck 6, Giggs 6 (Hernandez 75); Van Persie 5.

Subs not used: Anderson, Smalling, Lindegaard, Buttner.

Booked: Cleverley, Van Persie, Carrick, Young

Managers:

Brendan Rodgers 7
David Moyes 5

Referee: Andre Marriner 7

Attendance: 44,411

Man of the match: Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool vs Manchester United Match Video

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Arsenal 1 Tottenham 0: Giroud has saved Arsene Wenger and Gunners

Andre Villas-Boas left new record signing Erik Lamela on the bench giving a start to Andros Townsend in attack along with Nacer Chadli and Roberto Soldado.

Giroud’s close range finish midway through the opening half, after good build up play by Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky was enough to secure a valuable three points for the Gunners.

The win for Arsene Wenger’s side sees them move above Tottenham in the table and end their rivals unbeaten start to the new campaign.

Arsenal started the better of the two sides and twice tested Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from free-kicks inside the opening six minutes.

The French number one had to be on his guard to palm away Santi Cazorla’s well struck deadball.

Minutes later the midfielder playmaker saw his next effort whistle just past the post.

Spurs were second best in the opening stages, with Roberto Soldado’s blocked shot their only significant attempt before falling behind in the 23rd minute.

Great build up play was at the heart of the Arsenal opener as Rosicky threaded a pass through to Walcott, who centred the ball for Giroud to finish past his international team-mate Lloris at close range.

Walcott could have added a second moments later but his effort was well stopped by Lloris, which immediately sparked Spurs into life.

Andros Townsend, fresh from his senior England call-up, attempted to draw his side level but his effort from 20-yards out was parried away Wojciech Szczesny.

The Tottenham winger tested Szczesny for the second time minutes before the half-time interval, however the Polish stopper was once again on top keeping hold of the strike.

Arsenal suffered a blow just prior to the break with Jack Wilshere, complaining of stomach cramps, replaced by Mathieu Flamini, who made his second debut for the club after rejoining earlier this week.

The home side again started the second-half better than their north London rivals and nearly double their lead when Giroud’s pass found Walcott, however Lloris was quickly out to deny the Arsenal winger.

Villas-Boas’ side, who had failed to truly create a significant opening, would have drawn level if not for a brilliant reaction stop from Szczesny.

Jermain Defoe, a 69th minute substitute, saw his deflected shot stopped superbly by Szczesny, before Soldado had an ambitious penalty appeal waved away by referee Michael Oliver.

New signing Lamela was introduced with 15 minutes remaining and showed some neat touches as he tried to inspire his new side to draw level.

In a frantic final 10 minutes Lloris kept his side in the match with a great stop to deny Walcott.

Spurs, rallied on by an animated Villas-Boas, pushed for an equaliser with Kyle Walker guilty of missing a golden opportunity as he scuffed his attempt on goal.

Arsenal held on after five minutes of stoppage time to secure a deserved and important victory over their closest rivals.

Arsenal vs Tottenham Match Stats

ARSENAL: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere (Flamini 43), Rosicky (Monreal 78), Walcott (Sagna 90), Cazorla, Giroud

Subs not used: Fabianski, Zelalem, Gnabry, Sanogo

Booked: Rosicky, Flamini

Scorer: Giroud

TOTTENHAM: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Verthongen, Rose, Capoue (Sandro 74), Paulinho, Dembele (Defoe 68), Townsend (Lamela 74), Chadli, Soldado

Subs not used: Friedel, Naughton, Holtby, Sigurdsson

Booked: Defoe

Attendance: 60,073

Referee: Michael Oliver

Arsenal vs Tottenham Match Video

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English Premier League Week 3 Other Results

Man City 2 Hull City Tigers 0

Cardiff City 0 Everton 0

West Ham 0 Stoke City 1

Norwich City 1 Southampton 0

Newcastle 1 Fulham 0

Crystal Palace 3 Sunderland 1

Sunday, September 1

West Brom 0 Swansea City 2

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