Liverpool and Manchester City's shootout for the Premier League title intensified on Saturday with comfortable wins over Southampton and Cardiff, while Manchester United were held 1-1 by Wolves on the day Alex Ferguson returned to Old Trafford.
Jurgen Klopp could afford the luxury of handing Xherdan Shaqiri his first Liverpool start for a 3-0 victory at Anfield and Wesley Hoedt turned the Swiss international's deflected shot in for the opener before Joel Matip and Mohamed Salah's first goal in four games sealed Liverpool's seventh straight win in all competitions.
City edged ahead of Chelsea, who travel to West Ham on Sunday, into second, two points behind the leaders, as they bounced back from a shock Champions League defeat to Lyon in midweek by thrashing Cardiff 5-0 in the Welsh capital.
United, though, are now eight points off the top as a run of three straight wins to avert an early season crisis came to an end against an impressive Wolves while Ferguson watched on for the first time since undergoing emergency surgery on a brain haemorrhage in May.
Shaqiri stars
Liverpool stormed back to the top of the Premier League with 3-0 victory over Southampton with Mohamed Salah back among the goals at Anfield.
Liverpool have now won their first six league games for the first time since 1990, the same year they last won the title. The victory meant the Reds overtook Chelsea, who play on Sunday, and remained two points ahead of champions Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp's men scored all their goals before half-time as Wesley Hoedt turned Xherdan Shaqiri's deflected shot into his own net before Joel Matip's soaring header and Salah's tap in just before the break sealed the points early on.
However, victory may yet have come at some cost, with Shaqiri replaced at half-time and Virgil van Dijk walking off with an injury 10 minutes into the second period against his former club.
Liverpool's momentum continues to build after victory against top four rivals Spurs at Wembley last weekend and a thrilling late 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the Champions League.
The strength in depth now on offer to Klopp was shown in midweek as Daniel Sturridge scored on his first start of the season.
This time it was Shaqiri's chance to shine on his first start since his summer arrival from Stoke.
The Swiss international took just 10 minutes to make an impact, although he was helped by some good fortune as he broke the deadlock.
And then Matip, making his first start of the season, soared high to direct a header past the goalkeeper and give the home side a two-goal cushion on 20 minutes.
Salah came close again with a sublime back heel which just drifted past the post.
But his wait for a goal after a three-game drought was soon over when Shaqiri's wonderful 25 yard free-kick hit the crossbar and Salah grabbed his third goal of the season as it sat up invitingly on the line.
Wolves blight sir alex welcome
Ferguson was given a standing ovation before kick-off at Old Trafford as he took his seat accompanied by his wife Cathy in the United directors' box.
However, the presence of the club's most successful manager couldn't inspire United to victory despite Fred's first goal for the club opening the scoring 18 minutes in.
Wolves have thoroughly impressed on their return to the top flight and only a series of fine saves by David de Gea meant they went in behind at the break.
However, even the Spanish number one was helpless when Joao Moutinho curled into the top corner eight minutes into the second half.
City cruise
City boss Pep Guardiola was back on the touchline after having to watch his side's defeat on Wednesday from the stands as he served a one-match ban.
However, there was little chance of a Cardiff side still waiting for their first win back in the top flight also embarrassing the Premier League champions.
Sergio Aguero celebrated signing a new contract till 2021 on Friday by firing home the opener in sodden conditions before Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan made it 3-0 before half-time.
Club record signing Riyad Mahrez then came off the bench to score his first two City goals.
Elsewhere, Burnley moved out of the bottom three in comprehensive fashion by thrashing Bournemouth 4-0 for their first league win of the season.
Leicester came from behind to beat Huddersfield 3-1 to ease the pressure on Claude Puel.
Newcastle remain in the relegation zone despite holding out for a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace for just their second point of the season.
And Aleksandar Mitrovic moved level with Eden Hazard as the league's top scorer with five goals in six games as the Serbian's equaliser earned a 1-1 draw with Watford.
