Manchester United have replaced Manchester City as English Premier League football leaders after the cross-town rivals recorded contrasting results in this morning's matches.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
At the other end of the table, Chelsea were indebted to Brazilian duo Ramires and Willian who both scored late on to salvage a 2-2 draw for the champions at second from bottom Newcastle United.
United rose to the top with a 3-0 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford after City had crumbled to a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Captain Wayne Rooney ended an 11-match run without a league goal in United's comfortable victory.
Juan Mata and Memphis Depay were the other goalscorers for the hosts with the latter bagging his first Premier League goal for the club on the stroke of half-time.
United moved top for the first time since the opening day of the 2013-14 season and for the first time under Louis van Gaal.
They have 16 points from seven games, one more than City who took the lead at Tottenham through record signing Kevin de Bruyne but slumped to their second successive league defeat with England striker Harry Kane on target for the hosts after 12 hours without a goal for his club.
Struggling Chelsea are sixth from bottom with eight points from seven matches.
"In the first half, from zero to 10, (we were) minus one," manager Jose Mourinho said after the match.
"But in the second half we played very well."
Arsenal fell behind at Leicester City but Chile striker Alexis Sanchez returned to his best form with a hat-trick in a 5-2 victory that lifted them to fourth with 13 points, level with West Ham United who drew 2-2 at home to Norwich City.
The result ended Leicester's unbeaten start to the season.
Tottenham are up to fifth on 12 points.
Under-pressure Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers enjoyed some relief with Daniel Sturridge bagging a brace in a nervy 3-2 home win against Aston Villa.
Southampton breezed past Swansea City 3-1 while Stoke City beat Bournemouth 2-1 for their first league win of the season.
