• Premier League round-up

Liverpool go top, Arsenal, Stoke and Hull up and running

ESPN staff
August 24, 2013
Daniel Sturridge scored Liverpool's winner at Aston Villa © Getty Images
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Liverpool continued their 100% start to the season with a win at Aston Villa, while Arsenal bounced back from opening day defeat by cruising to victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Stoke completed a dramatic turnaround at the Britannia Stadium to defeat Crystal Palace, Hull City held on against Norwich to claim their first points on their return to the top flight, Southampton scored a late equaliser to deny Sunderland all three points at St Mary's, while Everton and Newcastle both ended with goalless draws against West Brom and West Ham respectively.

Liverpool joined Chelsea at the top of the table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over a battling Aston Villa side at Villa Park.

Daniel Sturridge jinked his way through the home side's defence midway through the first half before poking the ball into the roof of the net from close range to notch the only goal of the game - and the England striker's eighth goal in his last seven league games.

Villa improved in the second half and Christian Benteke twice tested Simon Mignolet, while both sides had penalty appeals waved away late in the game.

Arsenal showed no signs of tiredness from their midweek Champions League exploits as they ran out comfortable 3-1 winners over Fulham to become the first side in the Premier League era to register 100 London derby victories.

Emanuele Giaccherini headed in his first goal for Sunderland © Getty Images
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Olivier Giroud struck his third goal in as many games to give Arsenal the lead after 14 minutes, neatly flicking the ball over David Stockdale when finding himself in the way of Aaron Ramsey's original effort. Lukas Podolski then doubled the advantage shortly before half-time with a powerful side-footed finish.

Podolski netted his second of the game to give the visitors a comfortable advantage, before Darren Bent came off the bench to score on his Fulham debut. However, despite enjoying a late spell of possession, the home side failed to capitalise and it was Arsene Wenger who was left smiling at the end of a troubled week off the pitch.

Southampton scored a late equaliser to deny Sunderland all three points at St Mary's as Paolo Di Canio's men failed to hold on in the final minutes and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Emanuele Giaccherini gave Sunderland the perfect start when heading in Sebastian Larsson's corner, before Jay Rodriguez was denied a quick-fire equaliser after being flagged offside. On second inspection, the Saints striker appeared to have timed his run to perfection.

Record signing Dani Osvaldo was introduced by Southampton at the start of the second half, but it was Jose Fonte who finally found the breakthrough with three minutes remaining when glancing his header past Keiren Westwood from James Ward-Prowse's free-kick.

Stoke City scored twice in four minutes to see off newcomers Crystal Palace 2-1 in a dramatic turnaround at the Britannia Stadium to give Mark Hughes his first win as Potters boss.

Marouane Chamakh capitalised on some poor defending from Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth to give the visitors the lead with a neat finish just past the half hour mark.

Stoke should have been level almost immediately but Peter Crouch could only find the crossbar with his header before Julian Speroni almost deflected the ball into his own net.

Hull City held on for their first win since returning to the Premier League despite playing over an hour with ten men © Getty Images
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However, Stoke finally found a breakthrough shy of the hour mark when Charlie Adam converted with a tidy finish at the back post, before the turnaround was completed four minutes later when Shawcross powered home from eight yards out to take all three points in Staffordshire.

Robbie Brady scored Hull's first goal on their return to the Premier League as Steve Bruce's side enjoyed a 1-0 win against Norwich.

Brady converted from the penalty spot midway through the first half to give the home side the lead after Michael Turner was judged to have brought down Sone Aluko inside the box. However, minutes after going in front Hull were reduced to ten men when Yannick Sagbo was given a straight red for tangling with Turner.

Steve Bruce made no hesitation in approaching referee Mike Jones after the half-time whistle, but Norwich could not make the extra man count as Hull's home campaign began in winning fashion.

Newcastle could not find a way past West Ham as their match at St James Park remained goalless. Kevin Nolan wasted a glorious chance to score against his former employers when heading wide from six yards out, while Shola Ameobi's cross-come-shot looped over a hapless Jussi Jaaskelainen and back off the post in second half injury time.

Roberto Martinez's first home game in charge of Everton ended in a 0-0 draw against West Brom. The Toffees enjoyed countless possession and played attractive football, but could not find the finishing touch.

Marouane Fellaini and Seamus Coleman both saw efforts come back off the woodwork in the dying minutes of the game, as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils at Goodison Park.

Lukas Podolski scored twice for Arsenal as they enjoyed a 3-1 win over Fulham © PA Photos
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