ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Week 11

Ces Fabregas scored a 79th-minute equaliser as Arsenal FC returned to the top of the Premier league after drawing 1-1 at Liverpool FC, although the presence of new manager Juande Ramos in the stands could not inspire the Gunners' north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC as they lost at home to Blackburn Rovers FC.

Perfect start
Liverpool got off to the perfect start when Steven Gerrard scored with a powerful seventh-minute free-kick. Fábregas missed an open goal after Emmanuel Eboué's shot rebounded off the post early in the second half but made amends eleven minutes from time when he poked in Aleksandr Hleb's through-ball. Nicklas Bendtner missed a similar chance after Fábregas also hit the woodwork but an exciting match ended all square, sending unbeaten Arsenal ahead of Manchester United FC at the top on goals scored.

Tottenham loss
Liverpool, also unbeaten, are sixth, a point behind Blackburn after they piled more pressure on Spurs following Thursday's sacking of Martin Jol. New manager Ramos watched Robbie Keane give the home side the lead on 49 minutes from the penalty spot. Benni McCarthy levelled in the 59th minute and just as the spoils looked like being shared, Christopher Samba pounced in added time to earn Blackburn their fourth consecutive league win and leave Spurs in the bottom three.

Everton victory
Mikel Arteta (26) and Yakubu Ayegbeni (63) were on target as UEFA Cup hopefuls Everton FC sealed a 2-0 win against Derby County FC, who are now bottom after Bolton Wanderers FC drew 1-1 at home to Aston Villa FC in Gary Megson's first match in charge. France striker Nicolas Anelka gave the hosts the lead with a curling free-kick after 22 minutes before Gabriel Agbonlahor hammered in a cross from the right which cannoned off the chest of substitute Luke Moore (57).

Manchester United FC moved to the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 defeat of Middlesbrough FC while Chelsea were even more emphatic in their 6-0 humbling of Manchester City FC.

Tévez salvo
With early pacesetters Arsenal FC not playing Liverpool FC until Sunday, United moved a point clear of the Gunners at the summit with another dominant display at Old Trafford. Carlos Tévez was twice on target as the English champions cruised past Middlesbrough, Nani setting the ball rolling when he opened the scoring after just three minutes. Although Jérémie Aliadière headed the visitors level shortly afterwards, a mistake by Stewart Downing let Wayne Rooney in to restore the hosts' lead past the half-hour and Tévez added two after the break to earn United their fourth consecutive four-goal haul.

Drogba double
Chelsea turned on the style as they hit six goals past third-placed Manchester City. Michael Essien was first on the scoresheet on 16 minutes before Didier Drogba struck either side of half-time. England midfielder Joe Cole scored his first league goal of the season on the hour and forwards Salomon Kalou and Andriy Shevchenko got in on the act late on.

Reading win
David Kitson and Shane Long earned Reading FC a hard-fought 2-1 home win against Newcastle United FC, who had equalised when Michael Duberry put through his own net, while Birmingham City FC twice came from behind to beat Wigan Athletic FC 3-2. Darren Bent had twice given the visitors the lead but Oliver Kapo from the penalty spot, and Liam Ridgewell had each equalised before Kapo struck the winner with nine minutes remaining.

Benjani miss
Elsewhere, Fulham FC were denied a first away victory of the season when Sunderland AFC's Kenwyne Jones cancelled out Simon Davies's first-half free-kick four minutes from the end, while Benjani Mwaruwari had his last-minute penalty saved by Robert Green in Portsmouth FC's 0-0 draw against West Ham United FC.