PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Arsenal v Chelsea - as it happened from the Emirates

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League as Arsenal host London rivals Chelsea at the Emirates to kick off the weekend's action. Both sides have impressed at the start of the season with creative players Santi Cazorla and Eden Hazard getting the juices flowing in particular. Who will come out on top today? Kick-off is at 12.45pm.
Send me your thoughts at rik.sharma@dailymail.co.uk or contact me on Twitter @rbsfeatures.

 

Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea

Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Diaby (Oxlade Chamberlain 17) Arteta, Ramsey (Walcott 66); Cazorla, Gervinho, Podolski (Giroud 66).
Subs: Martinez, Djourou, Santos, Mertesacker.
Goal: Gervinho 42
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz (Cahill 80) Terry, Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Hazard, Oscar (Moses 72), Mata (Bertrand 84); Torres.
Subs: Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Romeu, Lampard.
Goal: Torres 20, Mata 52
Attendance: 60,101
Ref: Atkinson

So Chelsea stay top of the league after a good display. Arsenal can feel disappointed not to have earned a point as they played well, particularly in the first-half.
That's all from me, I hope you enjoyed the coverage. But stick around, because my colleague Joe Ridge is covering the 3pm kick-offs right HERE.
Full-Time
94mins: Torres slides in and puts in good work to stop Arsenal breaking. He's looked hungry and worked hard today.
93mins: Brilliant play by Bertrand and Hazard wins Chelsea a corner. Time's almost up.
91mins: Sky give their man-of-the-match award to Ramires. Though I can't look past Mata, the Brazilian has worked hard in the middle. He's never taken the game by the scruff of the neck like he can, but his industry has helped Chelsea in the midfield battle. He's been booked for a trip on Cazorla just now too.

No way: Martin Atkinson books David Luiz for a dive

90mins: Massive miss by Giroud! His first chance of the game sees him break into the box. He takes it past Cech to the left but hits the side netting. Trickier than it looked but that was a superb chance!
89mins: Cazorla misses the target again! Gervinho's cutback is smashed not-too-far wide of the left-hand post.
87mins: Every man and their dogs are getting nervous now. Arsenal itching for an equaliser. But good play between Mikel and Moses sees the latter brought down on half-way by Arteta.
84mins: Bertrand comes on for Mata, who has been the clear man-of-the-match today.
82mins: Off the post! Goalmouth scramble as Cech flies out of his goal. The linesman gives offside anyway.
79mins: Mata's free kick is blocked by Cazorla but his head caught Koscielny who is down. Luiz subbed for Gary Cahill. Hobbling off, but it doesn't look too serious.
78mins: Mata brought down on the edge of the box after a one-two with Torres. Right in the middle, this free kick is a great chance. Mata stands over it.

Great show: Mata pulled the strings for Chelsea

76mins: Gibbs skies a shot from over 25 yards out. Arsenal have not worked Walcott or Giroud in to the game yet.
73mins: Bringing Moses on is a brave decision by Di Matteo. Oscar put in a real shift and Moses is a different sort of player. He might work hard but it's normally in an attacking sense. Romeu might have been a more appropriate replacement, but then people do say attack is the best form of defence.
72mins: Another good save by Cech as he palms a shot which deflected off Luiz wide of goal. On comes Victor Moses for Oscar, who looks tired after a good display.
69mins: Good tackle by Ivanovic as Arsenal try and counter. The game is very tense but Chelsea are trying to slow it down and keep hold of the ball, helped by Mikel always making himself available to receive it.
67mins: Chelsea play down the right but that's a lazy cross from Torres when he could have done more with it.
66mins: Luiz cuts out Gibbs cross at the near post and is relieved to see it go wide of Cech's goal. Walcott and Giroud replace Ramsey and Podolski. Ramsey had a poor second-half.
65mins: Giroud and Walcott are ready to come on. Both scored against Coventry in the Capital One Cup.
64mins: Chelsea break at speed but good positioning from Arsenal's defence slows it down and Oscar's shot is blocked.

Taken out: Torres was brought down by Vermaelen and Mata scored the resultant free-kick

63mins: As on Wednesday, Mata has been sublime. He looked jaded at the start of the season and was overshadowed by Hazard. But since he was rested for a week he's been at the top of his game.Great to watch.
62mins: Torres ends a Chelsea counter-attack by falling over his own feet on the halfway line. Oops.
61mins: Slack pass by Ramsey brings Arsenal attack to an end... but Arteta wins it back and Jenkinson goes down on the edge of the box and gets a free kick. Cole protests and I think he has a point.
60mins: Hazard delivers a free-kick from the left after Oscar was brought down by Koscielny, but it's headed away. He's no Mata.
58mins: Incredible save by Cech! Podolski's header from six yards flicked away by the keeper.
57mins: That was the perfect free-kick from Mata, so difficult to defend. The goal came against the run of play, can Arsenal recover?
55mins: That was another brilliant cross from Mata. Mannone had no chance because of the whip on the ball. But if Koscielny hadn't touched it, might the keeper have reached it? Maybe. It was the smallest nick, but it was enough.

Goal! Mata! Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea
Vermaelen was booked for bringing down Torres on the break. Juan Mata took the free kick - from a similar position to where he crossed the one for Torres' goal, and it curled into the far corner, via a slight deflection from Koscielny.

Angles: Mata watches his free kick curl into the far corner

Flashback: Gervinho's strike flew past Cech

49mins: Podolski drives into the box after a good ball from Gibbs. Cole cuts out the cross but Cazorla skews the ball wide after a poor connection on the shot.
47mins: Luiz is booked for diving in the Arsenal box. Certainly wasn't a foul. The Brazil defender says to the ref that he wasn't asking for a penalty so how could it be a dive? But I think Atkinson is right. The only reason for him to go down there was to try and win a spot-kick.
46mins: Podolski ghosts into the Chelsea box but Luiz cuts out the danger. The Blues have earned a cheap corner though as Torres was dispossessed.
*Second-half begins*
Having another look at the goals and both of them should have been defended better. Koscielny was easily outmuscled by Torres for the first - and why was Luiz unmarked?
And Luiz and Terry were carved wide open when Gervinho scored. Both backed off him, leaving him in acres of space and under no pressure.
It's been a good match so far and the second half has the potential to be better still.

Decisions: How will Arsene Wenger and Roberto Di Matteo (below) change things in the second half?

*Half-Time*
45+2mins: Torres cuts inside but finds the side netting.

45mins: Just as I say that, Oscar breaks away and fires a shot wide. He wants a corner and the replay shows it clipped Vermaelen. But the referee does not oblige.
44mins: Arsenal have come alive, Chelsea are on the rocks. Three mins of added time, the Blues need to steady the ship as soon as possible.
Goal! Gervinho! Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
Superb goal by the Ivorian! He collected a low Oxlade-Chamberlain cross from the right around the penalty spot, teed himself up as the Chelsea defence seemed to shrink, then blasted the ball high past the helpless Cech.

Stunner: Gervinho rifles in the equaliser

39mins: Ox plays in Cazorla who's shot is blocked. Clever pass from the England international because the Chelsea defence were expecting a cross.
38mins: Oscar, who has been pinning down Mikel Arteta all game, is booked for a foul on the Spaniard.
36mins: Ivanovic evades a wild challenge and plays in Hazard who gets to the byline and crosses with a beautiful rabona. It doesn't reach its target though and the ball falls to Mikel on the edge of the box.
Now, if you've seen him shoot before, you know what happens next.
If you haven't, take cover.

Tussle: Ashley Cole chases Aaron Ramsey

35mins: Late challenge by Ramsey on Oscar earns the Welsh youngster a yellow card.
34mins: Good few minutes for Arsenal, a few dangerous crosses sent into the box. Maybe these would work better with Giroud on?
31mins: Captain Vermaelen launches one from 40 yards out but it ends up in the stand. Poor effort, but he has scored from long distance before.
28mins: Lovely play by Oscar and Mata sets in Torres but he's offside.
27mins: Gervinho with a chance at the far post, but his header from a tight angle comes back into the 6 yard box where Terry chests it back to Cech, cool as you like.
26mins: Would the Torres of old have taken that ball to the edge of the box before bending it in to the far corner? Probably.

Celebration: Terry joins Torres

22mins: This is really heating up! Cazorla wanted a penalty after Mikel beat him to the ball to head it away - not really sure what he was complaining about.
Then Torres broke away, in on goal, took it to the side of Mannone but Koscielny came back and as Torres tried to pull the trigger his shin clipped Koscielny's and he ended up pulling off an air shot.
Torres wanted a penalty as well, but even though he was caught, I don't think it warranted one because it happened as Torres pulled his foot back to shoot.
21mins: Arsenal cry for a penalty.... Chelsea break away and Torres is in! But he wastes the chance. Unbelievable.
GOAL! Fernando Torres! Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
Mata whipped in the free kick, Luiz was left free in the middle but it went past him and Torres cleverly stuck a leg out from behind his marker to strike from close range. A poacher's finish.

Breakthrough: Fernando Torres opened the scoring

19mins: Late tackle from Vermaelen on Hazard. Free kick from the right which Mata will take.
17mins: On comes The Ox. Diaby was injured when he hit that shot after 11 mins.
15mins: It looks like Abou Diaby has picked up a knock and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on the sidelines and ready to enter the fray.
13mins: Cazorla escapes a couple of niggly challenges and spreads it to the left, but Arsenal lose the ball.
11mins: Diaby skips past two and powers in a low strike that Petr Cech takes into his chest comfortably.
10mins: Ashley Cole is of course picking up a few boos as well. But it seems Terry is public enemy No 1 at the moment.

Captain, leader: Terry organises the defence

9mins: Gervinho cuts it back from the right but Cazorla blasts it into the stands from the edge of the box.

8mins: Predictably Arsenal fans jeer JT and Chelsea fans cheer him. 'You know what you are', sing the Gunners. 'John Terry has won the double' reply the Blues.
7mins: A scrappy start to the game. Neither side has really got hold of the ball and strung a few passes together yet.
4mins: Ramsey fires wayward and wide from distance.
2mins: Luiz takes it and though it bounces before Mannone, he holds on to it.

1min: Hazard is chopped down about 30 yards from goal, free-kick to Chelsea. David Luiz and Juan Mata stand over it.
12.45: Kick-off!
12.42: The teams are coming out onto the pitch. All the Arsenal players shake hands with John Terry. They were set an example earlier by Gunnersaurus (below).
12.35: Arsenal's defence this season has been superb. Even though it features Carl Jenkinson! That's harsh of course, because Jenko, as he is affectionately known, has played very well and deserves his place in the team.
12.33: Of course, this is the first time Arsenal have met Chelsea since Didier Drogba left the club. The impact the Ivorian target-man had on matches between the sides is well documented, but just in case you've missed it, he scored 13 goals in 14 games against the Gunners.

Shake on it: Terry with Arsenal mascot Gunnersaurus

12.32: I wonder how Fernando Torres will play today. At times this season he's been excellent - for example, the Newcastle game. But I saw him against Wolves in midweek and though he scored and provided an excellent assist for Juan Mata, his overall display was very weak. He looked out of ideas and missed an absolute sitter.
12.25: Oscar is quite the talent. It looks like he'll be playing in the hole today - although he'll probably trade places with his colleagues in a fluid Blues attack. But he's also able to play a lot deeper in midfield, which might end up being his role in the future. Just because he's little it doesn't mean he doesn't bite.
12.21: I know saying this will jinx it, but I really believe this is going to be a brilliant match. John Obi Mikel will have to be at his best to stifle the magnificent Cazorla. And Abou Diaby likewise to deal with Oscar, Mata and Hazard.
12.19: I think both sides have got enough firepower to find the net. Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski are a great combination for Arsenal. Will Gervinho produce today? 'Mercurial' is a kind way of describing him.
12.18: Dan from Kenya has emailed me to say that 'Chelsea are one of the best and they are going to prove that when they unload the guns of Wenger to win 2-0.'
12.16: Probably much the same as he always has been, by the Arsenal fans (and any other set of fans other than those in Chelsea shirts).
12.14: John Terry starts for Chelsea in his first game since being found guilty by the FA with regards to the Anton Ferdinand race row. How will he be received?

Shrug it off: John Terry starts for Chelsea despite the guilty verdict from the FA

12.11: Very interesting - Chelsea have picked an attacking side, is Roberto Di Matteo planning on taking on Arsenal at their own game? In the past the Blues have relied on power. Today looks more about precision.
Ryan Bertrand has been picked at left-wing in the past in tricky fixtures, but not today. Frank Lampard has been left on the bench too.
Arsenal, meanwhile, bring back Thomas Vermaelen after he missed last week's match with illness. Their bench contains plenty of options, including Olivier Giroud - who scored his first goal for the club in midweek.
Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also game changing options for Arsene Wenger.
12.05: The teams are in:
Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Diaby Arteta, Ramsey; Cazorla Gervinho, Podolski.
Subs: Martinez, Djourou, Santos, Mertesacker, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Giroud
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Hazard, Oscar, Mata; Torres.
Subs: Turnbull, Cahill, Bertrand, Azpilicueta, Romeu, Lampard, Moses
12pm: Good afternoon (just about) and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of what promises to be a thrilling encounter. I'll bring you all the team news as soon as I have it.

La London derby: Spaniards Santi Cazorla and Fernando Torres go head-to-head

SuperSport retains right to show English Premier League in Nigeria till 2016

Broadcaster SuperSport has retained the rights to show live English Premier League soccer matches in South Africa, Nigeria and other part of sub-Saharan Africa from 2013-2016, the Premier League said on Thursday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but the 20-team league is believed to have secured an improvement on the current deal which expires at the end of this season.
“We have worked with SuperSport for a number of years and are extremely pleased to extend our partnership,” Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said in a statement.
SuperSport, part of the MultiChoice pay TV business, has its headquarters in South Africa but broadcasts across the continent.
The Premier League is in the process of renewing overseas broadcast contracts in territories around the globe. It has already secured a 70 percent increase in the value of domestic TV rights in an agreement worth more than $1.62 billion per year.
English soccer is available in 720 million households around the world and its top clubs have a big global following.
The total value of overseas rights under the current three-year deal was around 1.3 billion pounds – a lot more than other European leagues can generate for their international rights.
Manchester United said earlier this month that it expected a “substantial increase” in the value of international television contracts.

John Terry gets four match ban and fine for racial abuse

John Terry has been banned and fined by the English Football Association over his racial abuse on Anton Ferdinand.

The Chelsea captain was been banned for four international matches and fined £220,000 for racially abusing QPR defender.
The Football Association found Terry guilty, following a four day hearing.

The FA’s decision to press ahead with their own charges led Terry, on the eve of the hearing, to announce he was retiring from international football with immediate effect, saying his position was “untenable”.
A spokesman for Terry said the player was “disappointed” the FA had reached a “different conclusion” to the “not guilty verdict of a court of law”.
“He has asked for the detailed written reasons of the decision and will consider them carefully before deciding whether to lodge an appeal” the statement continued.
Terry will have 14 days from receiving the written reasons to decide whether to lodge an appeal. The ban and fine will not come into effect until after the centre-half has decided what to do.
A statement from his club added: “Chelsea Football Club notes and respects today’s decision by the Football Association regarding John Terry.
“We also recognise that John has the right to appeal that decision. It is therefore inappropriate for us to comment further on the matter at this time.”
The FA charged Terry in July with “using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Ferdinand and which included a reference to colour and/or race contrary to FA Rule E3[2]“.
Terry admitted using the word “black” and swearing at Ferdinand in the match at Loftus Road on 23 October 2011 but insisted he had only been repeating words he thought the Rangers defender had accused him of saying.
Terry’s legal team argued the governing body’s own rules dictated that his acquittal in court meant the case could not proceed but the FA believed their charge was distinct from the court charge.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was given an eight-match ban when an FA disciplinary panel found him guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra last season.
The panel stated at that time that simply using racist language was enough to constitute a breach of FA rules.
In July, the ex-England captain, 31, was cleared by Westminster Magistrates’ Court of racially abusing Ferdinand.

U-17 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria wallop Azerbaijan 11- 0

Nigeria’s Flamingoes on Tuesday demolished Azerbaijan 11-0 at the on-going FIFA U-17 Women’s World cup sending the host country out of the tournament.
Striker Chinwendu Ihezuo plundered 5 goals to increase her tally to 6 goals and making her one of the top scorers in the competition.
Halimatu Ayinde and Tessy Biahwo bagged a brace each while Joy Bokiri and Aminat Yakubu scored one each to secure Nigeria’s biggest victory in any FIFA World Cup tournament.
Azerbaijan thus has conceded 14 goals and also recorded the worst performance by host of any FIFA World Cup.

Prepare for final fight, South Africa coach tells John Obuh

Solly Luvhengo has begun mind games ahead of the final clash between Nigeria’s Flying Eagles and the Amajita of South Africa which will take place in Ilorin, Nigeria on October the 7th.
The South African coach told Coach John Obuh the Flying Eagles to roll out his war drums as the final showdown should be prepared for seriously in the second leg qualifier of the African Youth Championships.
Luvhengo conceded that the Flying Eagles squad has lots of good players which has made up for a good team but South Africa will still fight to get by in the return leg in Nigeria even though it will be very difficult.
We just need to score in Nigeria and the pressure will be back on Nigeria. That is our target,” he concluded.
Obuh admitted that the match will not be an easy one, but said that his team was equal to the task.
“It won’t be an easy game in Ilorin (Nigeria) against a good and fast South African team, but we will qualify.
“These days, there isn’t such a thing as home advantage because a good team can play anywhere and win. Football has changed and so we can’t relax to ensure we finish off the job in Ilorin,” he said.
Coach Obuh expressed his desire to defend the title he won 2011 in South Africa. A win for him will see him land in the eight-nation AYC in Algeria in March.

Obinna Nsofor on call for Lokomotiv

Obinna Victor Nsofor one of Nigeria’s Super Eagles favourite players of all time came off the bench to score his second goal of the season for Lokomotiv Moscow away at Terek Grzny on Saturday night.
Nsofor signed in as a substitute in the 57th minute replacing Giushakov and lobbying for a showdown for 33 minutes as he found the back of the net in the 83rd minutes to notch Lokomotiv ahead with a 2-1 lead.
After the game, Nsofor who relished every moment while the ovation lasted said it was a great game for him as he is very excited that he contributed to the victory of his team with a goal.
Though battling to return back to glory days after suffering knee problems for a while reasons why he is not been featuring in national colours, said he is bent on regaining full fitness.
Lokomotiv eventually won the game with 3-0 final score.
Lokomotiv now occupy second spot with 19 points from nine games behind league leaders CSKA Moscow.
The former Enyimba forward is hoping to build on his goal for Lokomotiv and look ahead to scoring more goals.
“We have been doing well and I hope we will continue this way and even get better so that our goals will be achieved.”Nsofor concluded.

Obagoal scores winning goal for Levante on debut

Obafemi ‘Obagoal’ Martins came into his new Spanish side Levante in style as he showed why he is worth being bought as the out of favour Nigerian striker scored the winning goal on his debut for the La Liga club against another Spanish side Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Before he finally recorded a goal, the former Rubin Kazan hit-man’s effort was disallowed in the 64th minute as it was faulted as an offside.
Martins who came in as a substitute in the 46th minute and was on with much aggression  standing a threat to defenders till the 87th minute when he finally sealed the victory for Levante  after he received a brilliant pass from Ballesteros.
After the game Obagoal as he is fondly called back home said he couldn’t ask for a better debut than what happened in the game today.

My dream is to play for Arsenal one day – Ahmed Musa

Ahmed Musa, forward for CSKA Moscow is being reported as saying that he wants to join Arsenal.
The Nigerian forward, who claims that Cristiano Ronaldo is his role model, signed for CSKA in the January transfer window but seems as if the player could already have his eyes set on a move.  The player, who likes to play as a second striker, has already found the net on three occasions in eight appearances in the league and has also managed to grab two assists.
Although he has not been in Russia for long, at the time when he joined CSKA the player said it is the next step in his career.
So it was clear at the time that he saw the move as merely a step and now the 19 year old has said in response to question about what he would consider being at the top of his career
Ahmed said when he is as good as Cristiano Ronaldo then he is good enough to play for Arsenal FC of England. He said it is his dream to play for Arsenal one day.
To Ahmed, Ronaldo is the best footballer on earth as far as he is concerned and he is his role model and watching him play inspires him.
Ahmed said he is even fashioning his game after the Portuguese as he is his hero.
Already married at a young age, Musa has claimed that his wife has helped him settle in to life in Russia, saying there can’t be a better wife than her.
Described as a ‘teenage sensation’ before his move to CSKA when he was still playing for VVV Venlo, he broke the longstanding Nigerian goal scoring record during his time in the league there, scoring 18 goals in his only season in the Nigerian top flight before making his move to the Eredivisie.
He earned two penalty kicks in his first two games for the Dutch side and went on to score five and created four in 23 appearances in his first season in Europe and in his second three goals and three assists in 13 league games before he moved to Russia in January for an undisclosed fee.

Musa is under contract with CSKA until 2016.

Liverpool 1 Manchester United 2: Van Persie spot on as visitors take advantage of Shelvey's red card

Robin van Persie's late penalty secured Manchester United's first Anfield win since December 2007 against 10-man Liverpool on an emotional afternoon on Merseyside.
The hosts played 51 minutes with 10 men after Jonjo Shelvey's sending-off but still managed to take the lead through Steven Gerrard's volley seconds after the interval.

Spot on: Van Persie converts a late penalty to give United the victory over their fierce rivals

Dutch of class: The £24million summer signing wheels away in celebration after his late spot-kick

Match facts

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger (Carragher 80), Johnson, Gerrard, Allen, Shelvey, Borini (Fernandez Saez.46), Suarez, Sterling (Henderson 66).
Subs not used: Jones, Jose Enrique, Sahin, Assaidi

Goal: Gerrard 46

Booked: Reina
Sent off: Shelvey
Man Utd: Lindegaard, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Giggs, Valencia, Kagawa (Hernandez 81), Nani (Scholes 46), van Persie.
Subs not used: De Gea, Anderson, Welbeck, Cleverley, Buttner.

Goals: Rafael 51, Van Persie 81 (pen)

Booked: Scholes, Van Persie

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

However, Rafael equalised soon after and Van Persie, one of three United players to miss from the spot this term, scored his fourth goal in as many games against the Reds - although three of those had come for former side Arsenal - nine minutes from time.

In the end it was something of a relief the talking points were all generated on the pitch as Liverpool marked their first home match since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report which exonerated fans in relation to the 1989 disaster.

Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra shook hands in a show of unity before the game - the Liverpool forward had refused to shake the United defender's hand in the league meeting between the sides at Old Trafford in February, having previously been found guilty of racially abusing Evra in the corresponding fixture at Anfield last season.
Thankfully there were none of the distasteful chants which have marred this fixture for years, although that did not mean there was not an edge to the game.

Evra was overlooked for the captaincy - some say diplomatically - in the absence of Nemanja Vidic so it was Ryan Giggs who released 96 red balloons with Gerrard prior to kick-off.

Seeing red: Liverpool's Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for his foul on Jonny Evans

Red mist: Jonny Evans is flattened as Shelvey protests his innocence to ref Mark Halsey

The result left Liverpool rooted in the bottom three as their worst start to a campaign for a century continues whereas United maintained their usual progress moving up to second.
It was harsh on Brendan Rodgers' side, who continued to take the game to their rivals despite being short on numbers as they desperately looked for their first league victory of the campaign.

Squaring up: Shelvey gives Rio Ferdinand his thoughts as the players surround Halsey

You said what? Sir Alex Ferguson exchanges words with Jonjo Shelvey

United may have left Anfield wondering how they managed to win having hardly threatened in attack and failed to dominate midfield until the final quarter but those concerns will have been of little consequence.
For the first minute of the match three sides of Anfield held up The Truth, Justice and 96 mosaics as representatives of the Hillsborough victims' families watched on from the directors' box.

Opener: Steven Gerrard fired home after being left unmarked in the box

Also present, for the first time since being sacked in May, was former manager Kenny Dalglish - intrinsically linked with the tragedy having played a major role in the aftermath during his first spell in charge.

What he saw in the first half would have been very familiar as for most of last season his sides dominated at home without scoring. Once Giggs had flashed an early shot wide the momentum was all with the hosts as a Suarez cross-shot was stopped by Anders Lindegaard and headed away by Jonny Evans under pressure from Fabio Borini.

Kop that: Gerrard kissed the badge as he wheeled away to celebrate his goal

That's for you: Gerrard pointed to the heavens on the day they remembered the Hillsborough victims

Gerrard drove a low effort from Shelvey's corner into the side-netting and Suarez looped a right-footed shot wide before a match which, possibly because of the all the pre-match commemorations, had lacked the usual hallmarks of a north-west derby ignited. Shelvey robbed Giggs in midfield but as the ball broke free he launched himself at Evans and the inevitable outcome was a red card.

The 20-year-old midfielder, who scored twice in Thursday's Europa League victory at Young Boys, departed down the tunnel having exchanged heated words with Sir Alex Ferguson.

Jumping for joy: Liverpool fans savour Gerrard's goal after the first-half interval

Even with a numerical disadvantage Liverpool continued to pressurise United and Suarez drew Lindegaard into a low saw from his free-kick.

The visitors would have been pleased to reach the interval with their goal intact but it took just 50 seconds after the restart for that to change.

Stunning: Manchester United's Rafael guides the ball past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina

Leveller: Rafael celebrates his goal with team-mate Robin van Persie

Good lad: Rafael shows his pleasure at equalising for the visitors

Second-half substitute Suso, making his Premier League debut three days after his first-team bow in Switzerland, saw his cross half-cleared to Glen Johnson.

A tackle from Paul Scholes, on for Nani at half-time, succeeded only in diverting the ball towards Gerrard who volleyed home left-footed in front of the Kop. The Reds captain, whose 10-year-old cousin Jon-Paul Gilhooley was the youngest victim of the Hillsborough disaster, whirled away pointing both arms to the sky in celebration and remembrance.

Flying away: Van Persie celebrates as Gerrard looks dejected at the final whistle

It was short-lived, however, as within five minutes United were level when Shinji Kagawa laid the ball off for Rafael to brilliantly curl left-footed over Jose Reina and in off the far post. Rodgers' determination not to just shut up shop and settle for a draw was reflected in the approach of his team who made light of the fact they were a man down with Suso having a shot tipped over by Lindegaard and Suarez continuing to trouble the visitors' defence.

But as the match entered the final 20 minutes United began to take more control, although their winner came from their opponents giving away possession on the halfway line.

Daniel Agger and Johnson collided to allow Antonio Valencia to race 50 yards into the area and although Johnson got back he could only bring down the Ecuador international. Van Persie drilled home - although Reina went the right way and almost made the stop

Manchester City 1 Arsenal 1: Koscielny grabs late equaliser after Lescott header

Laurent Koscielny earned Arsenal a deserved point at the Etihad Stadium with a late equaliser as Manchester City's stuttering start to the season continued.
The Gunners had much the better of the first half but could not make their dominance count and Joleon Lescott headed the hosts in front from a 40th-minute corner.

All smiles: Koscielny is mobbed after scoring a late equaliser at the Etihad Stadium

Match facts

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany,Lescott, Clichy, Javi Garcia, Toure , Silva, Sinclair (Rodwell 46), Aguero (Balotelli 85), Dzeko (Tevez 68).
Subs Not Used: Pantilimon, Kolarov, Barry, Nastasic.
Booked: Javi Garcia.
Goals: Lescott 40.
Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Ramsey, Diaby (Giroud 71), Arteta, Cazorla, Gervinho (Coquelin 90), Podolski (Walcott 72).
Subs Not Used: Martinez, Andre Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Djourou.
Goals: Koscielny 82.
Att: 47,318
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

That looked like being the way it would stay as Arsenal struggled to find a way to goal, but Koscielny proved the unlikely hero with an unstoppable shot eight minutes from time.

Both sides wore black armbands to remember Greater Manchester Police officers Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes, who were killed on Tuesday, and all sides of the ground stood for a period of applause before kick-off.

City's defence of their Premier League title had consisted of two scrappy wins and two draws, while they suffered a last-gasp defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
They were at least boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero for the first time since the opening weekend of the season after a knee injury, and he had the first real chance of the game in the 14th minute with a curling shot that was pushed away by Vito Mannone.

It was Arsenal who were looking the more dangerous, though, cutting swathes through City's midfield, and had it not been for a truly awful touch from Gervinho as he ran on to Aaron Ramsey's through ball, they may well have been ahead.

Come in No 6: Koscielny wheels away in celebration after netting for the Gunners

The Gunners were taking on their opponents with real pace and in the 24th minute Carl Jenkinson did well down the right and pulled the ball back to Lukas Podolski, who skied his shot well over the bar. Gervinho then fired just wide with a shot that rippled the side-netting and drew cheers from the section of Arsenal fans down the other end who thought it had sneaked in.

Still they had not really tested Joe Hart, though, and they were made to pay in the 40th minute when Lescott, who had been surprisingly left out against Madrid, headed in David Silva's corner.

Head boy: Lescott scores for Manchester City with 39 minutes gone

Net gains: Arteta propped up the post but failed to stop Lescott's header from finding the net

Mannone, playing in place of the injured Wojciech Szczesny, certainly did not cover himself in glory, attempting to plough through a ruck of defenders and getting nowhere near the ball.

City could even have been two ahead at the break but Mannone partially redeemed himself with a fingertip save from Edin Dzeko's curling shot.

Blue is the colour: Lescott celebrates after scoring with six minutes remaining before the interval

City boss Roberto Mancini addressed his midfield issues by bringing on Jack Rodwell for the disappointing Scott Sinclair at the start of the second half, and immediately there was more dynamism about the home side.

Aguero fired over at the back post and was then screaming for a penalty when he thought he had been tripped by Koscielny. The Argentinian stayed on his feet and managed to get his shot away, which was blocked by Kieran Gibbs, and that probably counted against him as referee Mike Dean waved away the claims.

Silva service: The Manchester City winger takes on Abou Diaby and Aaron Ramsey

Arsenal were still passing the ball around neatly without really looking like scoring, and Gervinho's radar was off target again as he blasted high and wide in the 66th minute.

Dzeko was then replaced by Carlos Tevez while Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made a double change, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud coming on for Lukas Podolski and Abou Diaby. Arsenal were pressing hard but City almost killed the game off on the break in the 80th minute, Yaya Toure playing in Aguero for a shot that was smartly stopped by Mannone.

One minute's applause: The Etihad Stadium pay their respects to murdered PC's Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes

Talking tactics: Mancini delivers instructions to his troops during the Premier League clash

That proved to be a crucial moment as Arsenal went up the other end and Santi Cazorla drew the first real save out of Hart with a fine shot from the edge of the box.

The Spaniard took the resulting corner and Lescott could only divert the ball to the feet of Koscielny, who smashed the ball into the top corner. It was no more than Arsenal deserved but they had Mannone to thank for keeping them level moments later as he saved Vincent Kompany's acrobatic overhead kick before Aguero shot inches wide.

The Gunners had the final chance but again Gervinho's finish did not match his approach play, the Ivorian firing well over from 15 yards out.

Tottenham 2 QPR 1: Home comforts at last for AVB as Defoe completes comeback

Jermain Defoe scored his sixth goal of the season as Tottenham came from behind to beat QPR and register their first home win under Andre Villas-Boas.
A dreadful first-half performance meant Villas-Boas left the pitch at half-time to a chorus of loud boos, but his team turned things around after the break, with Defoe's strike and an own-goal from Alejandro Faurlin handing the Portuguese his first win at White Hart Lane at the fourth attempt.
Bobby Zamora, who scored one goal in 18 appearances at Spurs, put QPR ahead in the first half after Faurlin's brilliant slide-rule pass, and had it not been for a couple of brilliant reaction saves from Brad Friedel, Tottenham could have gone in 3-0 down at half-time.

Main man: Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring the winner for Spurs against QPR

Match facts

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Bale, Lennon (Townsend 90), Sandro, Dembele, Sigurdsson (Caulker 46),
Dempsey (Huddlestone 88), Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Lloris,Dawson,Falque,Mason.
Goals: Faurlin 60 og,Defoe 61.
QPR: Julio Cesar,Onuoha,Nelsen,Hill,Bosingwa (Dyer 3), Wright-Phillips (Mackie 77), Faurlin, Granero, Park, Hoilett, Zamora (Cisse 73).
Subs Not Used: Green,Diakite,Derry,Ehmer.
Booked: Granero,Dyer.
Goals: Zamora 33.
Att: 36,052
Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

The home team regrouped after the break and put in a much better performance with Gareth Bale, who had started at full-back, pushed up to his natural position on the left wing.
Faurlin somehow chested the ball into his own net at the back post from a Steven Caulker header and, less than two minutes later, Defoe scored the winner after coolly finishing from 10 yards.
Spurs had conceded in the latter stages of all their previous games, but they held firm this evening to leave Villas-Boas punching the air with glee at the final whistle.
The slippery surface made it hard for Spurs to pass the ball around in the early stages, but they fashioned a chance in the third minute when Aaron Lennon found Defoe at the near post but his shot was blocked.
Gylfi Sigurdsson then went down under a pile of QPR players and appealed for a penalty but referee Phil Dowd waved play on.
QPR quickly settled into their rhythm and started pushing for an opener from the off.
Friedel, recalled to the starting XI ahead of Hugo Lloris, pulled off a brilliant save to deny Clint Hill after four minutes.

In front: Bobby Zamora (right) put QPR in front against Tottenham at White Hart Lane

Nine minutes later the American again produced a world-class save from Junior Hoilett from 10 yards after some poor defending from Kyle Walker.
QPR's fourth corner of the game allowed Ryan Nelsen to sneak in front of his marker, but he headed wide.
Spurs failed to test Julio Cesar once during the first half and they started resorting to long shots that failed miserably.
The one time they had the ball in the net, Clint Dempsey's effort was ruled out after Defoe was given offside in the build-up.

Party time: QPR celebrate taking the lead against Tottenham thanks to Zamora

It only seemed a matter of time before QPR broke the deadlock and the opening goal came just after the half hour when Faurlin carved open the Spurs defence to find Zamora, who slotted the ball past the advancing Friedel.
Friedel was at full stretch moments later to deny Hoilett as Rangers pushed for a second.
Mark Hughes thought his team should have had a penalty after 38 minutes when Zamora went down under a challenge from William Gallas but Dowd waved play on.
After being booed off at half-time Villas-Boas brought on Caulker for Sigurdsson, which allowed Bale to move up to his natural position.

Leveller: The ball deflects off Alejandro Faurlin and into the net as Tottenham equalised

After being booed off at half-time Villas-Boas brought on Caulker for Sigurdsson, which allowed Bale to move up to his natural position.
Hoilett somehow bustled Caulker's giant frame off the ball and fired at goal but Gallas put in a crucial block.
The 20-year-old proved his worth at the other end by putting in a powerful header from a Bale corner that was cleared off the line.

In front: Gareth Bale's effort was saved by Julio Cesar but Defoe was on hand to turn in the rebound

The game then changed completely with two Spurs goals in 95 seconds.
First Caulker's header from the back post flew in off the chest of QPR midfielder Faurlin and Defoe then made it 2-0 with a cool finish.
Vertonghen charged at the Rangers defence and laid the ball off to Bale, whose shot ricocheted into the path of the England striker, who calmly slotted the ball home through a sea of QPR defenders.
Tottenham's confidence grew by the minute. Dempsey fired a 20-yard shot just wide of Julio Cesar's goal and Bale's powerful cross somehow missed a tap-in.

Pure delight: Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas celebrates his first home win

Hoilett then wriggled free from his marker on a rare QPR attack but Vertonghen came to the rescue with a heroic sliding tackle to dispossess the former Blackburn man.
The match was turning into a thrilling end to end encounter. QPR, mindful that Spurs had conceded in the last 10 minutes of all their league games, threatened through Hoilett and substitute Djibril Cisse.
Spurs still poured forward looking for a third, however, and they almost got it when Dempsey and Defoe had close-range headers blocked.

Crunch: Gylfi Siggurdsson of Spurs is brought down by Clint Hill after trying to fire in a shot

Defoe raced through with five minutes left but he was forced wide by Park Ji-Sung.
QPR poured forward in injury time looking for an unlikely equaliser but the nearest they came was a curled shot from Faurlin that went a yard wide.
Defoe almost added his second when he raced through in the last minute of added time but Julio Cesar saved well to his right.