Two-time defending champion Chelsea moved into first place in the Premier League on Saturday, beating Fulham 2-0 Saturday through two goals by Frank Lampard.
Manchester United played a late match at Reading and could take a share of the lead with a victory.
Both big-name English teams could be overtaken Monday when Bolton plays at Portsmouth. A victory by Portsmouth would move Pompey ahead of both Chelsea and Man United.
In other Premier League results on Saturday, it was: Liverpool 3, Tottenham 0; Arsenal 3, Sheffield United 0; Aston Villa 2, Charlton 0; Manchester City 2, West Ham 0; Middlesbrough 0, Blackburn 1; Wigan 1, Watford 1.
Chelsea, which lost at Fulham a year ago 1-0, didn't break through until Lampard scored a penalty in the 73rd minute. He got his second seven minutes later.
Liverpool got three second-half goals from Mark Gonzalez, Dirk Kuyt and John Arne Riise to beat Tottenham 3-0, continuing Spurs' poor start.
The Chile winger scored on the rebound in the 63rd. Netherlands striker Kuyt doubled the lead 10 minutes later with a powerful right-foot shot, and Norway's Riise completed the scoring with a minute left from 30 yards.
After a slow start, Arsenal continued inching up the standings with a 3-0 victory over last-place Sheffield United. It was Arsenal's second league win of the season _ and the Gunners' first at their new Emirates Stadium.
William Galas scored in the 65th and Phil Jagielka's own-goal made it 2-0 four minutes later. Thierry Henry scored in the 80th.
Aston Villa stayed unbeaten under new manager Martin O'Neill with a third win in six games. Gabriel Agbonlahor and Luke Moore scored in the 2-0 victory.
Struggling Man City also broke through, beating another foundering team _ West Ham _ with a 2-0 victory on two goals by Georgios Samaras.
Blackburn defeated Middlesbrough 1-0 on Shabani Nonda's goal, and bottom-end clubs Wigan and Watford drew 1-1. Henri Camara scored in the 29th for Wigan, and Hameur Bouazza equalized in the second period.
In the League Championship, Birmingham missed a chance to take sole possession of first place, losing 3-2 at Leeds. Cardiff and Birmingham each have 17 points to lead the league.
Cardiff played Sunday at Southend.
