Chelsea suffered their first defeat of the Premier League season as they were beaten by Manchester United, while Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was again to the fore as Everton came thundering back to earn a draw in the Merseyside derby.
Meanwhile Tottenham and Newcastle scraped past Southampton and West Brom respectively.
Manchester United closed the gap to a single point at the top of the Premier League as they got the better of nine-man Chelsea, triumphing 3-2 in a dramatic encounter at Stamford Bridge.
After battling back from two goals down to level, Chelsea had Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres sent off before Javier Hernandez netted the winner to seal all three points for the visitors.
United, who started the day four points behind the Blues, burst out of the blocks with an early goal; Van Persie’s strike clattering off a post and rebounding off an unsuspecting David Luiz inside four minutes.
They were soon two goals to the good when Van Persie netted his seventh league goal of the season, the former Arsenal striker lashing home Antonio Valencia’s low cross from the right.
Juan Mata inspired Chelsea’s fightback as he curled home a free-kick from the edge of the area after Wayne Rooney clattered Eden Hazard before Ramires nodded in Oscar’s cross to equalise.
But the momentum soon swung firmly back in United’s favour as Chelsea had two players sent off inside five minutes; Ivanovic was given a straight red for bringing down Ashley Young as the last man and then Torres was handed a second yellow for diving after Jonny Evans’ challenge.
United immediately looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage, and Hernandez scored his third goal in two matches as he poked home from close range after Van Persie’s initial attempt was cleared off the line.
Everton displayed all the qualities which have kept them in the top four this season to battle back and draw 2-2 with Liverpool, who blew a two-goal lead the 219th Merseyside derby.
When Luis Suarez headed in his sixth goal in eight league matches in the 20th minute, after Leighton Baines had earlier turned the Uruguay international’s cross-shot into his own net, the Reds appeared in control at Goodison Park.
However, in a pulsating first half Leon Osman pulled one back almost immediately before Steven Naismith equalised 10 minutes before half-time.
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