Liverpool and Chelsea lose, Defoe sent off at Pompey

Manchester United returned to the summit of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Bolton, while Big Four rivals Chelsea and Liverpool both lost on another topsy-turvy weekend of football...

Wiley strikes again
Alex Ferguson's favourite referee Alan Wiley did his best to ingratiate himself with the red side of Manchester by sending off Pablo Zabaleta for their Mancunian rivals City, and denying Mark Hughes' expensively arranged side a late penalty. Hughes humorously complimented Wiley - whose fitness Ferguson had challenged with remarks that may see him banned from the touchline for five games - on being able to keep up with play after City's 1-1 draw away at Wigan.

Clarets clobbered on the road
Burnley maintained their remarkably lop-sided record this season as they lost away 3-2 to age-old Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers. Owen Coyle's side now have 12 points from four games at their Turf Moor citadel, and no points at all from five games on the road. Coyle won't be complaining as long as his side's home from get them over the all-important 40-point target.

Life's a beach
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, already cursing the luck that saw his two most potent attacking forces, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, ruled out of Saturday's clash against Sunderland, saw his side lose to a goal that was deflected into the net by a beach ball. That the object had been thrown onto the pitch by Liverpool fans at the stadium of light will not have improved the temper of a manager who now faces three must-win games in the space of eight days.

Defoe loses control
Not the happiest of returns for Jermain Defoe, who was shown a straight red card on his return to Portsmouth with Spurs on Saturday. The striker had been magnificent in the first half, hitting a post and putting the visitors 2-0 in first half injury time. But the ceaseless abuse from the crowd, along with some cynical play by the home side, finally got to the England international and he snapped, petulantly stamping on Aaron Mokoena and potentially putting his international chances in jeopardy.

Blues for Carlo and Frank
Chelsea's impressive start to the season seems to be foundering a bit on the road, as they recorded their second consecutive defeat in the Premier League at Villa Park in the early game on Saturday. Although their early unbeaten run has meant that they are only one point off Manchester United at the top of the table, Carlo Ancelotti will be aware that his predecessor Luiz Felipe Scolari had a similar bright start before being axed during his first season at Stamford Bridge. Frank Lampard's goal drought isn't helping matters either. ·