Manchester United retained their early grip on top spot in the Premiership with a hard fought odd goal in three victory over newly promoted Watford at Vicarage Road.
Sir Alex Ferguson's multi-talented outfit dominated the early exchanges and deservedly went ahead in the 12th minute when Mikael Silvestre fired home from the edge of the penalty box, the first time he has scored for United outside Old Trafford.
However, Aidy Boothroyd's battlers are already forging a reputation for being competitive and restored equality just after the half hour, Damien Francis netting from close range following good flank work by recent England Under-21 recruit, Ashley Young.
The visitors were not to be denied though, and Ryan Giggs, back to his imperial best, took advantage of a weak back pass by Matthew Spring to round Richard Lee and maintain his record of scoring in every Premiership season. For a full match report, click here.
Aston Villa is up into second place after an excellent home victory over Newcastle United.
The arrival of charismatic Irishman, Martin O'Neill and more latterly American billionaire, Randy Lerner certainly appears to have had the desired effect for the perennial Midlands underachievers, and first half goals by Luke Moore and an apparently re-focused Juan Pablo Angel, the Columbian's second in consecutive home games, easily disposed of the meek challenge presented by Glen Roeder's Newcastle United, for whom Obefami Martins, their £10.1m midweek signing was stretched off with a dead leg. 
Everton are third after an impressive two goal triumph over inconsistent Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, their first at the North London ground for 21 years.
Reduced to ten men after 33 minutes when Kevin Kilbane was red carded for a second bookable offence, David Moyes' side took the lead early in the second half when Calum Davenport could only divert a Joelon Lescott header past his own goalkeeper, Paul Robinson. The in-form Andy Johnson then added a second, cleverly slotting home a Phil Neville cross to seal the points.
Chelsea predictably recovered their composure following their surprise midweek reversal at Middlesbrough, comfortably seeing off the challenge of a disjointed Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
A sterile first half remained goalless but the Champions eased ahead soon after the interval, Frank Lampard converting from the penalty spot after Rovers' Andre Ooijer had been adjudged to have brought down England Captain, John Terry. Didier Drogba, a second half substitute, then wrapped up the points for Jose Mourinho's men with a surging run and powerful finish eight minutes from time.
Chelsea as a result are fourth while Blackburn, albeit after only three matches are bottom.
Liverpool won for the first time this season, seeing off Alan Pardew's West Ham United on Merseyside.
The East London club does not enjoy away days at Anfield, where they have not won for 36 years, and this unenviable record continued as a long range strike from Daniel Agger and a neat finish by Peter Crouch before half time, cancelled out Bobby Zamora's opener for the Hammers, his fourth goal of the new season.
Arsenal's early season struggles continued as they lost by the only goal at the City of Manchester Stadium.
The home side had not enjoyed the best of weeks, following a heavy defeat at Champions Chelsea, and the furore surrounding the Ben Thatcher/ Pedro Mendes incident, but a Joey Barton penalty late in the first half, plus some unusually wayward finishing from the Gunners, most notably from an out of sorts Thierry Henry put a smile back on manager Stuart Pearce's face following a tight one goal victory. 
The remaining matches saw welcome home victories for Charlton Athletic, Fulham and Wigan Athletic.
Charlton Athletic manager, Ian Dowie has not had the most auspicious of starts in his return to the big time following his acrimonious summer move across South East London from Crystal Palace, and he must have feared the worst when Icelandic defender, Hermann Hreidarsson was sent off for use of the elbow 27 minutes into his team's home fixture with previously unbeaten Bolton Wanderers.
The side from the Reebok went on to dominate proceedings for a time, and should have taken the lead on 57 minutes, but El Hadji Diouf had his penalty saved by England hopeful, Scot Carson. 
Perhaps sensing a change in fortune the Valliants soon went up the other end and were awarded a spot-kick of their own, and England international, Darren Bent made no mistake in slotting home his first goal of the new campaign.
Kevin Davies then received his marching orders for an incident similar to that of Hreidarsson before Bent completed the scoring with his second five minutes from time.
It may only have been the second weekend into a nine month season, but already many pundits are predicting bleak futures for Fulham and Sheffield United, so it will be the personable Chris Coleman, manager of the Craven Cottage side, who would have enjoyed his Bank Holiday the more relaxed, following a Jimmy Bullard inspired success over counterpart Neil Warnock.
Bullard, a £2.5m signing from Wigan Athletic towards the end of last season ran the show from start to finish, and may have had a hat-trick, but settled for firing home a wonderful free-kick just prior to the break that was more than enough to defeat a desperate Sheffield United.
Bullard's former team mates complete this week's round-up, the Latics easing past Steve Coppell's Reading at a half empty JJB Stadium (14, 636) thanks to a first goal for the club by £5.5m close season signing, Emile Heskey.
Footnote: Portsmouth continued their sparkling start to the new campaign with a four goal rout of Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in front of Sky's TV Camera's on Bank Holiday Monday.
Harry Redknapp's team, yet to concede a goal, returned to second place in the table after a brace from an in-form Kanu, and further goals from Benjani Mwaruwari and Svetoslav Todorov.