In the English Premier League, Chris Herd played the full 90 minutes as Aston Villa secured a shock 3-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield. Herd had a fine game in defence, twice denying the dangerous Luis Suarez with last-ditch tackles in a superb defensive rearguard from the often under siege Villa back 3. Brett Holman played 69 minutes in the clash and provided the assist for Christian Benteke’s opener, laying it off to the Belgian who powerfully drove the ball home from 25 yards. Holman then showed his defensive attributes on 51 minutes, dispossessing Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole with a fine tackle which fell to Benteke who embarked on a solo run to score and seal the 3 points for Villa. Brad Jones was an unused substitute for Liverpool.

Mark Schwarzer played a full game in goal for Fulham in their disappointing 2-1 loss to bottom placed Queens Park Rangers. Schwarzer was unlucky to be beaten by a deflected Adel Taarabt shot before some individual brilliance saw Taarabt double QRP’s lead. Schwarzer did his best to minimize the damage for Fulham with a superb stop late to deny Djibril Cisse’s goal-bound header.

In the Championship, Scott McDonald’s superb form continued, finding the back of the net again for Middlesbrough in their 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. With the game precariously placed at 0-0 with just minutes remaining, McDonald won a penalty for his side with Wolves midfielder Karl Henry adjudged to have handled McDonald’s cross. Marvin Emnes converted the penalty before McDonald added the cherry on the cake in added time, smashing home an effort from inside the box following Emnes’ pass. Rhys Williams missed the clash through injury.

Shane Lowry played the full 90 minutes at left-back as Millwall recovered from last week’s hiccup with a 1-0 win over Leicester.

Mile Jedinak was missing through suspension as Crystal Palace missed their chance to regain top spot with a 2-2 draw with Birmingham City.

Elsewhere, Patrick Kisnorbo was again absent from the match-day squad as Leeds United beat Ipswich Town 2-0, while Neil Kilkenny was absent from the Bristol City side that were beaten 2-0 at home by Derby County.

In League One, Bradden Inman made it two goals from two games, scoring the winner in Crewe Alexandra’s 1-0 win over Bury. Inman had a fine chance to open the scoring in the first half only to be denied by Bury ‘keeper Trevor Carson, but the on-loan Newcastle midfielder didn’t miss at the second time of asking, collecting skipper Luke Murphy’s classy pass to calmly slot home on 87 minutes.

Bailey Wright returned to the starting line-up in Preston North End’s dour 0-0 draw with Portsmouth. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff also played 90 minutes in the clash.

Elsewhere, Alex Cisak suffered a facial injury for Oldham Athletic in their disappointing 2-0 home loss to Swindon Town. Cisak dived at the feet of Swindon striker Andy Williams in the second half and copped a foot to the face and was unable to continue. Liam Jacob was the reserve ‘keeper, but was unable to come on as Oldham had used all 3 substitutes. James Wesolowski started the clash but was replaced after 55 minutes, while Dean Bouzanis was absent through suspension.

In League Two, James Meredith played 90 minutes as Bradford City conceded a stoppage time goal to draw 2-2 with Southend. Meredith provided the assist for the game’s opener on 28 minutes, feeding Nahki Wells who finished from inside the box after seeing his initial shot blocked. Curtis Good was an unused substitute in the clash.

Elsewhere, Aaron Downes played 90 minutes in defence as Torquay United drew 1-1 with Northampton Town, while Jamie Young played a full game in goal for Aldershot in their 4-2 win over Rochdale.

In the Scottish Premier League, Ryan McGowan played the full 90 minutes as Hearts drew 2-2 with St Johnstone. McGowan was involved in Hearts’ second goal on 38 minutes, launching a now trademark long throw which was hit home by Andy Driver following former Central Coast Mariners striker John Sutton’s flicked header. McGowan then showed his defensive prowess with an acrobatic goal-line clearance just as Gregory Tade looked set to steal the three points for St Johnstone. Brother Dylan McGowan returned from a hip injury, coming on as a half time substitute.

Elsewhere, Alex Baird was an unused substitute as Dundee FC drew 1-1 with Ross County.

In the Scottish Second Division, Marc Warren played the full 90 minutes as Airdrie United lost 2-0 to Greenock Morton.

In the German Bundesliga, Robbie Kruse was missing through suspension as Fortuna Dusseldorf secured a 2-1 win over Hannover 96.

Elsewhere, Mitch Langerak was an unused substitute as Borussia Dortmund returned to the winners list, beating Hoffenheim 3-1. Nikita Rukavytsya was absent from the match-day squad as FSV Mainz beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1.

In the German Second Division, Mathew Leckie played 90 minutes as FSV Frankfurt lost 2-1 at Hertha Berlin. Leckie had an industrious shift, first going close to opening the scoring just after half time, only to be denied by Hertha ‘keeper Thomas Kraft. Leckie then drew a foul 20 yards from goal, the resulting free-kick was blocked before being turned home by Michael Gorlitz.

In the Dutch Eredivisie, Tommy Oar played 90 minutes as FC Utrecht beat SC Heerenveen 3-1. Oar had a busy shift, as his set pieces again caused plenty of problems for the opposition defence, with Mike van der Hoorn unable to turn his header from Oar’s corner on target. Adam Sarota played the full 90 minutes in a polished midfield performance, while Michael Zullo was an unused substitute.

Jason Davidson was an unused substitute as Heracles lost 3-2 to FC Twente, while Travis Cooper was absent from the match-day squad as VVV Venlo drew 0-0 at FC Groningen.

In the Dutch Second Division, Corey Gameiro played the full 90 minutes as FC Eindhoven suffered a 6-1 thumping from AGOVV Apeldoorn. Elsewhere, Andrew Marveggio was an unused substitute as SC Telstar drew 3-3 with Sparta Rotterdam.

In the Italian Serie A, James Troisi was an unused substitute as 10-man Atalanta were beaten 3-0 by Troisi’s parent club, Juventus.

In the Serie B, Carl Valeri was again absent from the match-day squad as Sassuolo remained top with a 3-1 win over Padova.

In the Greek Super League, Giannis Simosis was a 66th minute substitute as AO Kerkyra lost 2-0 to Panthrakikos.

In Austria, James Holland was substituted at half time with a hip injury following a heavy collision as Austria Wien beat Sturm Graz 3-1.

In the Belgian Second Division, Kofi Danning was an unused substitute as CS Vise played out a 0-0 draw with FCN Sint-Niklaas.

In the Japanese Emperors Cup, Josh Kennedy was absent with a back problem as Nagoya Grampus advanced to the final eight with a 5-2 win over Roasso Kumamoto.

In the UAE, Nick Carle played 90 minutes and provided the assist for the match sealer as Baniyas beat Lucas Neill’s Al Wasl 3-1. Carle’s long ball was expertly controlled by Senegalese striker Andre Senghor before dinking the ball over Al Wasl ‘keeper Rashed Ali. Neill played 90 minutes upon his return from a hamstring injury.

Elsewhere, Richard Porta played the full 90 minutes as Dubai drew 1-1 with Al Kalba.

In the Qatar Stars League, Matt Spiranovic returned from injury, playing the full 90 minutes as Al Arabi won their first game of the season, beating Al Wakra 2-1.

Elsewhere, Mark Bresciano played the full 90 minutes as Al Gharafa beat Qatar SC 1-0, while Sasa Ognenovski put in a full shift as Umm Salal beat Khor SC 2-1.