Ruud van Nistelrooy helped Manchester United get another shutout victory Saturday, beating Aston Villa 1-0 Saturday to put the Reds level on points with co-leaders Tottenham and Charlton after two rounds.
Tottenham leads on goal difference after beating Middlesbrough 2-0 at White Hart, while Charlton edged promoted Wigan 1-0.
Chelsea and Arsenal play today at Stamford Bridge, with the victor drawing level in the standings with the leading trio.
Unlike last season's dismal start -- winning just once in the first five games -- Manchester United has made a fast start to the new campaign.
Van Nistelrooy scored in the 66th minute to follow up the Red Devils' 2-0 victory at Everton last week and its 3-0 defeat of Hungary's Debrecen in the Champions League earlier this month.
"There are goals here. I can smell them," said Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, whose team finished 18 points behind champion Chelsea last season. "We had some chances and their defense and 'keeper had fantastic games."
Jermain Defoe and Mido scored Tottenham's goals against 'Boro at White Hart Lane, while Darren Bent netted Charlton's winner against Wigan, which has started its first season in the top flight with two 1-0 losses.
West Ham, which was promoted last season through the League Championship playoffs, drew 0-0 at Newcastle despite having Paul Konchesky sent off soon after halftime and lies in fourth place. The Hammers are level on points with Manchester City, which won at Birmingham City 2-1, and West Bromwich Albion, which beat Portsmouth 2-1 thanks to two goals from Geoff Horsfeld.
Man City came from behind to win at Birmingham. Nicky Butt scored his first goal for the home side but Joey Barton and Andy Cole hit back at St. Andrews.
A spectacular long-range free kick from Xabi Alonso earned Liverpool a 1-0 victory over another promoted club, Sunderland, which had Andy Welsh sent off near the end.
Blackburn edged Fulham 2-1 with Denmark striker Morten Pedersen and Turkey midfielder Terimoglu Tugay scoring on either side of a goal by Fulham's Brian McBride.
Bolton and Everton meet today, each seeking a first victory of the season.
Park Ji-sung almost scored his first Manchester United league goal since his transfer from PSV Eindhoven, but Villa goalkeeper Thomas Soerensen pushed the South Korean's powerful long-range drive onto the crossbar in the first half.
Park was replaced midway through the second half by Cristiano Ronaldo, and the Portuguese winger set up the goal that made the breakthrough.
Rio Ferdinand broke from defense and fed the ball to Ronaldo on the right. The winger curled in a cross and the ball flicked off Villa defender Olof Mellberg and straight into the path of Van Nistelrooy, who scored with a tap in.
With four players missing through injury and suspension, Villa manager David O'Leary defended his team's negative tactic of playing one striker, Juan Pablo Angel.
"I am an attack-minded coach and like to take people on but circumstances dictated my plans because we had a few players injured," O'Leary said. "Within the budget we are trying to bring players in but we have to get on with it. That's life. The only worry I have is we will lose players through injury."
Reading went to the top of the League Championship with a 5-0 win over Millwall and was joined on nine points by Sheffield United, which hit back from a goal down to beat Preston 2-1. Luton's impressive start ended with a 2-1 loss at Stoke.
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