Everton 1 Liverpool 1 

This turned out to be the last game for Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool manager and he never lost a Merseyside derby in his three years at the club. Danny Ings put Liverpool ahead four minutes before half time but there was still enough time for Romelu Lukaku to equalise before the break. Liverpool were hanging on in the end but Rodgers was unable to hang onto his job after a fairly low key start to the season. The Reds have won three league games from eight against the teams that currently occupy 14^th, 15^th and 18^th in the table. Two seasons ago Rodgers was in pole position to become the first Liverpool manager to win a league title since 1990 but his side eventually lost out to Manchester City. Rodgers can point to the fact he lost Suarez and Sterling and was constantly without Sturridge due to injury but his team lacked a game plan this season. Once again at Goodison there defensive frailties were exposed with Can making a mess of Deulfeu’s cross but he’s a central midfielder being asked to play as a defender.  They’ve always been suspect at the back under Rodgers and have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight games in all competitions. It doesn’t help that they’ve only scored more than once in a game on only one occasion this season. Liverpool are away to Tottenham after the International break and by then they should have a new manager with Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti the leading candidates for the post. Liverpool are only three points off the top four so the new manager will feel a Champions League place is achievable given some of the crazy results so far this season.    

Arsenal 3 Manchester United 0

Arsene Wenger was criticised for Arsenal’s dismal performance against Olympiacos in the Champions League but what a response from his side against United who could have gone top with a win. All the damage was done in the first 20 minutes with Alexis Sanchez on target twice either side of a Mesut Ozil strike. For Arsenal it ended a run of eight league games without a win against United and it was only their second win in 14 against them. United were all over the place early on and had never conceded three goals in the opening 20 minutes of a Premier League game. Petr Cech saved from Anthony Martial before half time proving once again he is head and shoulders above David Ospina in terms of quality. Arsenal are up to second and maybe Gunners fans are starting to think why can’t they win a first league title since 2004. It looks like they’ll be out of the Champions League before Christmas so it could actually work in their favour.

Manchester City 6 Newcastle 1

City returned to the top of the table and ended a run of back to back league defeats. Manuel Pellegrini’s side looked shaky in the first half and went behind when Aleksandar Mitrovic headed home but Sergio Aguero scored five goals in the space of 20 minutes. The Argentine became the fifth player in Premier League history to score five in one game but he was taken off before he got the chance to become the first to score six. Vincent Kompany could be back from a calf injury after the International break so City might be over their mini blip. They are the kind of side that can go on a run of consecutive wins so I’d still have them as favourites for the title. As for Newcastle they’re still without a league win and Steve McClaren could well become the next managerial casualty. The former England boss has won just two of his past 21 league games as a manager (eight games at Newcastle, 13 at Derby County).

Chelsea 1 Southampton 3 

I keep waiting for Chelsea to turn things around but there are no signs of it happening. Jose Mourinho’s side went in front through Willian but goals from Davis, Mane and Pelle helped Southampton become only the third team to win a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge with Mourinho in charge. The Chelsea manager said the club would have to sack him to get him to leave and I have a feeling that’s exactly what he wants. He doesn’t want to be seen walking away from the club with the champions in crisis after a fourth defeat in eight league games. Chelsea are 16^th in the league with their lowest points total after eight games in a top-flight season since 1978-79 when they went on to get relegated. Everything that could go wrong for them has ever since a fairly poor pre season and their opening day draw at home to Swansea signalled there was more to come. That was also the same day Mourinho clashed with Eva Carneiro and I’d imagine there are not too many people out there with a great deal of sympathy for Jose.

Sunderland 2 West Ham 2 

Dick Advocaat’s first game as Sunderland manager was against West Ham in March and his last game in charge also came against the Hammers. Rumours were circulating on Friday night that Advocaat was ready to walk away regardless of the result at the Stadium of Light and he’ll wonder how they didn’t win this game. The Black Cats are yet to win in the league this season and they let a 2-0 slip after goals from Steven Fletcher and Jeremain Lens put them firmly in the driving seat. Carl Jenkinson led the fightback for the Hammers with a goal before half time and when Costel Pantilimon gifted Dimitri Payet an equaliser the home side were hanging on. It didn’t help that they had Lens sent off in the second half and news broke at lunchtime on Sunday that Advocaat had left the club. What next for the side that have defied the odds to stay up the last couple of seasons? How many lives to the Black Cats have and is it a job for Sam Allardyce? Sean Dyche and Nigel Pearson are also believed to be in the running but whoever it is they’ll have a tough task on their hands to keep Sunderland in the top flight.

Crystal Palace 2 West Brom 0

Crystal Palace maintained their impressive start to the season with a comfortable win at home to West Brom. Alan Pardew’s side had to be patient against the Baggies and former Palace manager Tony Pulis. Yannick Bolasie broke the deadlock in the second half when he got on the end of Yohan Cabaye's cross and Cabaye got the second from the penalty spot late on to move Palace into fourth place. It was West Brom’s first away defeat in the league this season while Palace haven’t had this many points after eight games of a top-flight season since 1990-91 when they ended up in third place.

Norwich 1 Leicester 2 

Leicester bounced back from their first league defeat of the season with a fourth top flight win of the campaign. Jamie Vardy put the Foxes ahead with a penalty to score his fifth goal in five games and Jeffrey Schlupp made it 2-0 in the second half. Norwich's new recruit Dieumerci Mbokani pulled one back but Claudio Ranieri’s side are up to fifth despite no clean sheets this season. Leicester have won 11 league games since the start of April and only Manchester City have a better record in that period with 12.

Aston Villa 0 Stoke 1 

Villa boss Tim Sherwood has now lost 19 games in the Premier League which is the same amount as he has won. Villa also haven’t won since the opening day and find themselves in the relegation zone four points from safety. It was Stoke’s second successive win and the only goal of the game came in the second half through Marko Arnautovic, who also had a goal disallowed for offside.

Bournemouth 1 Watford 1 

Glenn Murray has to fill the void left by the injured Callum Wilson and the former Palace striker was on target but he should also have won the game. Murray opened the scoring before Cherries goalkeeper Artur Boruc gifted Odion Ighalo an equaliser approaching half time. Ighalo has now scored 21 goals in 26 league games in 2015, more than any other player in the top four divisions. Bournemouth could still have won the game when they were awarded a penalty in the second half but Murray’s spot kick was saved by Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes.

Swansea 2 Tottenham 2

Spurs haven’t lost in the league since the opening day of the season and Christian Eriksen earned them a point at Swansea with two goals from free-kicks. The Dane has scored six direct frees since he moved to Tottenham in 2013 which is more than any other player. Swansea led twice in the game through an Andre Ayew header and a Harry Kane own goal which he won’t want to see again.