Saturday's clash between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford is already shaping up as an early-season eliminator to challenge runaway leaders Manchester City for the Premier League title.
Chelsea have topped the spending list with Manchester United not far behind, but West Ham United's business epitomises the TV riches which give all Premier League clubs spending power that only the elite teams in Spain or Germany can dream of.
A first-half Robert Pires goal earned them victory over Southampton.
United are 16th in the standings with a game in hand heading into the international break.
A round-up of Saturday's action in the Premier League.
IMAGES from the English Premier League match played on Saturday
Manchester United beat Manchester City to open up an eight-point lead over defending champions Chelsea.
The battle to avoid relegation is now a straight shootout between Hull City and 17th-place Newcastle United, who are two points better off heading into Sunday's final round.
Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has said that the Old Trafford club can overturn a poor start to win the league title, despite being eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Manchester United are all but certain to retain their Premier League title after opening an eight-point lead by beating Queens Park Rangers 2-0 on Sunday while second-placed Manchester City crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.
Manchester United captured their 18th English league title on Saturday when they secured the point they needed in a nervy 0-0 draw at home to Arsenal.
First-half goals from Didier Drogba earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, securing them a return to the top of the Premier League, two points ahead of Manchester United.
Arsenal needed a last-minute goal to beat Fulham 2-1 in the English premier league.
Liverpool regained their place at the top of the English Premier League with a 2-0 win at Cardiff City on Sunday that restored their two-point lead over Manchester City
Man Utd sign Mount from Chelsea on five-year deal
Manchester United replaced Manchester City as Premier League leaders with Wayne Rooney ending an 11-match run without a league goal in his side's comfortable 3-0 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Asked whether he will make his debut against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, the 28-year-old said that he has been training throughout the pre-season and "feels good".
Jose Mourinho maintained his hold over Arsene Wenger with leaders Chelsea enjoying a routine 2-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday after the two old adversaries became involved in an ugly touchline spat.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
Arsene Wenger has accused Manchester United of using 'anti-football' tactics during Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday. The Frenchman said deliberate fouling was more harmful to the game than the alleged dive by Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva which is being investigated by UEFA.
The 24 sides through from the group phase join the eight third-placed finishers in the Champions League in Monday's draw, including Manchester United and Ajax Amsterdam.
Uncapped Dutch defender Alexander Buttner completed his move from Vitesse Arnhem to Manchester United on Tuesday, signing a five-year contract with the Premier League club.
The Dutch striker gave Manchester United a 4-1 premier league win at Leicester City.
Michael Owen has stuck the boot into Arsenal's Premier League title credentials and claims record signing Mesut Ozil is too inconsistent to lead the Gunners to glory, according to reports.
Manchester City now need, at most, 11 points from their remaining seven matches to secure their third Premier League title in four seasons.
Chelsea's hopes of winning a third consecutive Premier League title have taken a knock with a third straight draw, their first match this season without scoring.
Holders Milan could face an Arsenal backlash on Wednesday when they play the English league leaders at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. The Gunners, five points clear at the top of the Premier League, were trounced 4-0 at Manchester United in the FA Cup on Saturday but have the perfect opportunity to get back on track against the experienced campaigners from northern Italy.
Liverpool's FA Cup match on Saturday is one of four all-Premier League tussles, with leaders Manchester United also hosting Aston Villa, Everton taking on Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth facing Wigan Athletic.
Wayne Rooney proved he was worth his weight in gold to Manchester United with a man of the match performance in a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
Arsenal, as a club, have been charged with misconduct.
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has no concerns over his future at the club despite being displaced in the starting line-up by Alexis Sanchez, vowing to fight his way back into manager Arsene Wenger's first-team plans. Chilean forward Sanchez has shone in the central striker's role, scoring eight goals in 15 appearances this season, while Giroud has missed much of the campaign with a toe injury.
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Photos of the Champions League game that were played on Tuesday.
Champions Manchester United's hopes of retaining their English Premier League title suffered another major setback on Saturday when they were beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford by a composed Newcastle United.
Teenager Marcus Rashford followed up two goals on his Manchester United debut in midweek with another double plus an assist as Louis van Gaal's team dented Arsenal's Premier League title hopes with a 3-2 win on Sunday.
Bournemouth breathed life into their Premier League survival bid on Sunday, coming from a goal down to beat fourth-placed Leicester City 4-1 for their first win in 10 games. Toby Alderweireld's 81st-minute header sealed a 2-1 Premier League victory for Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal in the first north London derby in their new stadium on Sunday.
Dimitar Berbatov came off the bench to give Manchester United a 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday that put them five points clear in the Premier League while Arsenal rallied to draw at West Bromwich Albion.
