Chelsea and Manchester City offered compelling evidence that they will lead the pursuit of leaders Arsenal and champions Manchester United lost further ground on a Sunday that brought the third managerial casualty of the Premier League season.
Juergen Klopp refused to rule out Liverpool as Premier League title contenders on Wednesday after ending the year level on points with Manchester United and nine behind leaders Arsenal.
The difference in fortunes since Liverpool won 3-0 away to Manchester United in March was illustrated when Louis Van Gaal's team reversed that scoreline on Sunday.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that his team will struggle to make a top-four finish at the end of the season, thus virtually ending their hopes of Champions League qualification following a 4-1 defeat against Arsenal on Saturday night.
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel was charged with violent conduct for appearing to stamp on Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea.
Leicester City were give a Premier League reality check when the unlikely leaders lost 1-0 at Liverpool on Saturday after Manchester United slumped to a third consecutive league defeat to pile more pressure on manager Louis van Gaal.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's comments that he "hated" title rivals Liverpool have been removed from the Premier League club's website ahead of Saturday's clash between the two sides. Rooney, who began his career with Liverpool's arch-rivals Everton, moved to United in August 2004, a club who also share a close rivalry with the Anfield side.
Liverpool said on Friday they would appeal against an additional two-match ban imposed on midfielder Javier Mascherano by the English FA.
Jose Mourinho's reshaped Manchester United destroyed Premier League champions Leicester City 4-1 with a performance that thrilled Old Trafford on Saturday and justified his decision to leave out Wayne Rooney. The shake-up seemed to liberate Paul Pogba who led the way with a polished display, heading his first goal for the club on 42 minutes and starting the clever move that led to Juan Mata firing home United's second after 37 minutes.
Salomon Kalou's second-half double against Middlesbrough moved Chelsea up to second in the English Premier League on Wednesday after Liverpool stuttered again by conceding a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Wigan Athletic. Liverpool wasted the chance to go level on points with leaders Manchester United after on-loan Egyptian striker Mido converted an 83rd-minute penalty on his debut to earn Wigan a point at the JJB Stadium.
The holders and runners-up made their exit from the League Cup in the fourth round after being beaten by Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion respectively.
Manchester City seized the chance to put Premier League leaders Manchester United under pressure with David Silva's double in a 2-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday while Liverpool recorded a 5-0 win at home to Norwich City.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson dismissed Chelsea's Premier League title hopes on Wednesday.
Manchester United, comprehensively outplayed by local rivals Liverpool and Manchester City at Old Trafford recently, face an even tougher challenge when holders Bayern Munich come calling in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Premier League bursts back into life after the international break.
Manchester City made Raheem Sterling the most expensive English player in history when they completed a deal for the 20-year-old forward on Tuesday, rubber-stamping an acrimonious end to his Liverpool career.
Yossi Benayoun struck in injury time to give Liverpool a hugely important 1-0 victory at Fulham that took them top of the Premier League on Saturday. The win takes Liverpool to 67 points, two ahead of champions Manchester United, who have two games in hand and host Aston Villa on Sunday.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is expected to return to training in September after undergoing hip surgery in the United States, manager Brendan Rodgers said on Friday.
Liverpool beat Newcastle United 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday to maintain their pursuit of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table and send Newcastle deeper into relegation trouble at the bottom. Second-placed Liverpool moved to 77 points with three matches to play. Leaders United have 80 points and four matches remaining.
His 107th-minute strike gave Liverpool a 2-0 win over Sheffield United.
European champions Liverpool were beaten 0-2 by Fulham in the English Premier League.
Robin van Persie's late penalty earned below-par Manchester United a 2-1 victory over 10-man Liverpool in an emotionally-charged Premier League clash at Anfield and champions Manchester City were held to a 1-1 home draw by Arsenal on Sunday.
'It was shambolic ... so bad' 'United didn't need a new philosophy, they had one for 20-odd years that worked'
Juergen Klopp expressed disappointment at the officiating and his Liverpool side's poor finishing in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final at Anfield on Wednesday after Southampton claimed a late 1-0 victory to book a spot in the final.
Rafael Benitez said Liverpool's net outlay on players is not as high as that spent by England's biggest clubs.
Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho helped Liverpool reach the FA Cup fifth round.
- 'The match epitomised our season really' - 'Today we were the better side in the first half but you can't concede the goals we did'
Liverpool are working closely with Merseyside police in an attempt to identify a man who appeared to have made racist gestures during their FA Cup fourth round victory over Manchester United at Anfield on Saturday.
Manchester United climbed to third place in their quest for a berth in next season's Champions League.
first English title for 30 years had been sealed almost a month ago with seven games remaining, following a three-month stoppage because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a string of middling transfer windows, Manchester United have made their biggest statement of intent in recent years by signing centre back Raphael Varane and winger Jadon Sancho.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United enjoyed comfortable wins in the English Premier League on Saturday as fans returned to stadiums after an eight-month absence.
Top European soccer clubs have discussed changing the Champions League to ensure the elite are always in it and the likes of Leicester City are not, according to a US sports executive involved in the talks.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Liverpool's US owners and their shirt sponsor intervened over the weekend to help defuse a race row that was damaging one of the most successful English soccer clubs.
To miss UEFA Super Cup match against Chelsea
;You will have setbacks. We beat Arsenal, we beat Liverpool. On Sunday, we had a bad day at the office. City were better, we have to accept that. But we can't accept our unacceptable performance. So thank you for the lesson, Pep and City. We have to understand, we have to do things much better.'
English Premier League champions Manchester City will kick off their title defence at home to promoted Southampton on August 18 before facing Liverpool at Anfield the following weekend.
