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Fabregas strike puts Gunners at top of table

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League on Sunday when they drew 1-1 at Liverpool.

Steven Gerrard put the home side ahead in the seventh minute but Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas hit his 10th goal of the season with 10 minutes left to ensure both sides continued their unbeaten starts to the Premier League season.

Arsenal joined Manchester United on 26 points and with the same goal difference, but lead the standings having scored more goals.

Liverpool dropped to sixth place on 20 points, while Blackburn moved up to fifth with a 2-1 win over Tottenham, who remained in the relegation zone after conceding an injury-time goal for the fifth time this season.

While Arsenal went into Sunday's match at Anfield unbeaten in any competition since April, Liverpool were seeking a return to form after a 2-1 Champions League loss to Besiktas in midweek.

The Gunners pressured Liverpool with their passing, but Liverpool took the lead from a free kick move just outside the area.

The kick was touched sideways to Gerrard, who smashed a shot through the defensive wall and into the net.

Arsenal dominated possession and territory, but struggled to create clear chances.

The breakthrough came after a spell of pressure, with Aleksander Hleb ignoring easier options to slip a pass between two defenders for Fabregas.

The Spain midfielder, who had already shot over from a rebound after Emmanuel Eboue hit the post, collected the ball just inside the area and shot past goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Tottenham Hotspur fired coach Martin Jol midweek after the club's poor start, but his replacement Juande Ramos watched from the stands and saw a performance typical of those that have blighted the club's season.

Spurs led Blackburn Rovers at White Hart Lane through Robbie Keane's 49th-minute penalty kick, awarded for a foul on Aaron Lennon by Stephen Warnock.

Spurs peppered Blackburn's goal with shots but were unable to hold onto the lead. Benni McCarthy hit a 60th-minute equalizer that deflected off defender Michael Dawson and, in added time, Christopher Samba took advantage of another defensive mistake.

The defense failed to clear a free kick into the area and Samba scored the winning goal from the edge of the box.

Derby County dropped to the bottom after Mikel Arteta and Yakubu Ayegbeni scored at Pride Park for Everton.

Derby looked threatening but Phil Jagielka passed through the home defense in the 26th minute for Arteta, and the midfielder beat goalkeeper Stephen Bywater. Yakubu made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute from a low pass by Steven Pienaar.

Bolton Wanderers, were playing under manager Gary Megson for the first time for the visit of Aston Villa and led through a 22nd-minute goal by Nicolas Anelka, but Luke Moore equalized for Villa in the 57th minute.
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