Dirk Kuyt fired Liverpool into a 28th-minute lead with a superb placed header into the top-left corner after jumping unmarked to meet Fabio Aurelio's pinpoint cross.

The Trotters were denied a leveller on the stroke of half-time when centre-back Gary Cahill had a header from a corner disallowed by referee Rob Styles after Kevin Nolan tangled with Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina.

The visitors extended their lead after 73 minutes following good work by substitute Fernando Torres, who was criticised by manager Rafael Benitez for his performance in the midweek Carling Cup loss to Tottenham.

The Spain international stole the ball from the toe of Andy O'Brien before sending over a delightful cross with the outside of his right boot that Steven Gerrard met with a lunging header into the corner after stealing a march on Cahill.

Manchester United were 2-0 ahead at the interval against Stoke at Old Trafford in one of six 3pm kick-offs.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for the hosts after just three minutes, the winger hitting his 100th United goal with a trademark free-kick that evaded Thomas Sorensen despite the ball dipping under the bar in the centre of the goal.

Michael Carrick extended United's lead on the stroke of the interval, the midfielder receiving the ball from Ronaldo on the edge of the area before setting himself and unleashing a fierce left-footed drive into the roof of the Stoke net.

Wigan also needed just three minutes to hit the front against third-bottom Newcastle at St James' Park, Ryan Taylor firing in a sweet volley from 20 yards that handed the Latics a 1-0 lead at the break.

Harry Redknapp's glorious run of results at the Tottenham helm came under pressure at Craven Cottage as Fulham carved out a 1-0 lead courtesy of a glaring Heurelho Gomes error.

Spurs, unbeaten in four in the league, have it all to do in the second period after Simon Davies fired the Cottagers ahead with a shot that deflected off Jonathan Woodgate before slipping through the grasp of Gomes.

At the Emirates Stadium, Manuel Almunia did his bit to keep Arsenal level with Aston Villa by saving an Ashley Young penalty after 20 minutes.

Young won the penalty himself after being felled by Theo Walcott on the edge of the penalty area.

With regular penalty-taker Gareth Barry injured in the build-up, it fell to the winger to pick himself up and take the spot-kick but he could only fire tamely to the bottom-left corner and Almunia made the stop.

Blackburn took the lead on the stroke of half-time against Sunderland, Christopher Samba rising to nod home Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner.

Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe wasted the best chance of a goalless opening 45 minutes against West Ham at Upton Park, the former Hammers striker lifting the ball over the bar after beating the advancing Robert Green to Glen Johnson's searching pass.