Manchester United responded to the challenge of Arsenal's early kick-off win over Liverpool by dismissing 10-man Birmingham 3-0.
Arsenal threw down the gauntlet to the Old Trafford outfit and fellow contenders Chelsea by winning 2-1 at Anfield.
But their four point lead was soon cut back to one point as United moved above Chelsea into second after taking a 1-0 lead when Maik Taylor gave away a penalty by bringing down Paul Scholes in the 34th minute.
The Northern Ireland goalkeeper was sent off and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who scored from the spot against Stuttgart in midweek, beat his replacement Ian Bennett. Scholes doubled their lead 12 minutes into the second half, drilling a right-foot shot low into the left of the visitors' goal and Ryan Giggs made sure of the points with a third after 82 minutes.
Peter Reid's chances of remaining in the Leeds hot-seat were given a lift when Seth Johnson scored twice to give them a 2-1 win over Blackburn.
The manager had showdown talks with chairman Professor John McKenzie after Leeds slipped into the bottom three following a poor run of results.
Johnson, one of former manager David O'Leary's expensive signings, opened the scoring after 11 minutes and added a second in the 27th minute.
Blackburn pulled a goal back with Dino Baggio's first strike for his new club but the Elland Road outfit held on for the win.
Newcastle's Alan Shearer scored the 250th league goal of his career in the 44th minute to secure a 1-0 win over Southampton.
Wolves secured their first win of the season when Colin Cameron netted their first home goal of the campaign after 75 minutes against Manchester City.
Two goals inside the first four minutes of the second half ensured victory for Tottenham against Everton.
Playing at home for the first time since the sacking of Glenn Hoddle, Spurs were given the lead by Fredi Kanoute's 43rd-minute goal.
Gustavo Poyet doubled their lead almost straight from the second-half kick-off and Robbie Keane put them 3-0 up three minutes later.
A late Shaun Bartlett goal completed a stirring comeback for Charlton at Fratton Park.
Teddy Sheringham gave Portsmouth the lead, the former England international scoring after 34 minutes.
But Jonathan Fortune equalised for the visitors in the 77th minute and Bartlett's strike made it 2-1 to Charlton.
In-form Fulham headed for the upper echelons of the table with a 2-0 defeat of Leicester thanks to a Luis Boa Morte double.
The Portugal international put them ahead in the 36th minute and doubled their lead after 73 minutes.