Sunday 25 August 2013 07:20, UK
Arsenal enjoyed a convincing first Premier League victory of the season as Hull City marked their first home game back in the top flight by beating Norwich City and Liverpool won at Aston Villa.
Mark Hughes enjoyed his first win as Stoke City manager as his side came from behind to win 2-1 against Crystal Palace at the Britannia Stadium. Palace were in front on 31 minutes when Ryan Shawcross failed to deal with a long ball and Marouane Chamakh took advantage to drill a low shot past Asmir Begovic. Stoke almost equalised immediately when Peter Crouch was denied by the crossbar, but the towering striker was involved when the home side did draw level on 58 minutes. It was Palace's turn to make a hash of coping with a bouncing ball as Crouch helped it on in the penalty area to Jon Walters, who fed Charlie Adam to steer his shot past Julian Speroni. And four minutes later Stoke were in front after Palace failed to clear a long throw-in. Robert Huth showed the greatest desire to win a loose ball ahead of Chamakh and it broke for Shawcross to swivel and score the winner. Jose Fonte headed home a late equaliser as Southampton denied Sunderland a first win of the season following a 1-1 draw at St Mary's. Sunderland enjoyed a stunning start and were in front after just three minutes when Emanuele Giaccherini was left unmarked six yards out to head home Sebastian Larsson's corner. Southampton thought they had equalised two minutes later when Jay Rodriguez finished clinically from Rickie Lambert's pass, but the striker was flagged offside. The Saints' second-half pressure brought an equaliser two minutes from time when James Ward-Prowse curled a free-kick into the box and Fonte powered a header inside the upright. Sam Allardyce maintained his record of never losing at St James' Park since being sacked by Newcastle United after West Ham United secured a 0-0 draw on Tyneside. Kevin Nolan missed a good chance to score against his former club in the second half and Hammers striker Modibo Maiga had a late goal rightly disallowed for offside. Newcastle almost nicked it in fortunate circumstances when Sammy Ameobi's cross from the left flew over Jussi Jaaskelainen and bounced off the post.
