Reds battering Rams

Liverpool looked set to move to the top of the Premier League as they led bottom side Derby 2-0 after 45 minutes at Anfield.

Xabi Alonso scored for the Reds in the 27th minute with a free-kick from 40 yards that curled into the box and eluded everyone before creeping inside Stephen Bywater’s far post.

Ryan Babel added an excellent second when Alvaro Arbeloa pulled the ball back to him and a superb dummy fooled two Derby defenders and he comfortably despatched the ball past Bywater.

Their Merseyside neighbours Everton have also started the season well and debutant Ayegbeni Yakubu made a flying start for them at Bolton.

Andrew Johnson teed up his new strike partner perfectly and the Nigerian made no mistake from 12 yards in the 11th minute to give the Toffees a 1-0 half-time lead.

Tottenham took a 2-1 lead into the break away to Fulham.

Spurs forged ahead in the 10th minute when central defender Younes Kaboul, signed from Auxerre in the summer, turned the ball in from a Gareth Bale corner.

Dimitar Berbatov added a second in the 27th minute after Robbie Keane hooked the ball over the Fulham defence and the Bulgarian crashed his shot into the net. American midfielder Clint Dempsey pulled one back for the Cottagers in the 42nd minute.

West Ham were one goal to the good away to Reading as Dean Ashton started his first senior game since the 2006 FA Cup final for the Hammers.

His strike partner Craig Bellamy was the goalscorer though as he raced away from his markers and drilled a low shot across Royals goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann in the sixth minute.

Middlesbrough led Birmingham 2-0 at the Riverside as David Wheater’s powerful 12th-minute header left Maik Taylor rooted to his line.

Stewart Downing added Boro’s second eight minutes before the break when he lashed in a shot from close range after a header down by George Boateng.

There were no goals between Newcastle and Wigan at St James’ Park, although Michael Owen had one ruled out after he strayed marginally offside.