In pictures: the weekend's matches from the Premier League

Whatever the results in the Premier League this weekend, surely the most remarkable statistic is that Sir Alex Ferguson has now been in charge of Manchester United for 25 years Photograph: JON SUPER/AP

Ferguson gets a surprise before the match against Sunderland as the club have secretly renamed the North Stand in his honour Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

Quality is sparse during the first half, and so too are chances. United only take the lead when their former defender, Wes Brown, unwittingly turns the ball into his own net from Nani's corner seconds before the interval Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Sunderland's defenders make like a flock of seagulls as Park Ji-sung goes down Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters

Lee Westwood, the Sunderland keeper, makes a glorious double save to keep Sunderland in the game but United collect all three points Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Images

Over at the Emirates, Arsenal and West Brom observe a minute's silence before their match in tribute to Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

In the 22nd minute, Robin van Persie scores his 29th goal in his last 28 games as he blasts home the rebound from Theo Walcott's shot Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Thomas Vermaelen then bags a second courtesy of Van Persie's cut-back before Mikel Arteta rounded off the scoring 16 minutes from time Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Petr Cech's headgear did not serve much good against Blackburn. Chelsea's Czech goalkeeper was smacked in the face during a collision with Yakubu and Ashley Cole Photograph: ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images

Chelsea took the lead in the 51st minute when Frank Lampard stooped to the turf to guide a header beyond Paul Robinson in the Blackburn net Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters

Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt tried a similar effort at Anfield as the Reds hunted desperately for a late winner against Swansea Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

But Kuyt's header was correctly ruled offside and Liverpool failed to score, much to the frustration of manager Kenny Dalglish Photograph: Jon Buckle/PA

League leaders Manchester City went a goal down at QPR as Jay Bothroyd rose to give the Hoops the lead Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

It was the 29-year-old's second goal for the club he joined in the summer Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

But City responded with goals from Edin Dzeko and David Silva - whose touch and shot inside the penalty box was particularly sweet Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

Heidar Helguson brought QPR level by deflecting a Bothroyd header into the net but Yaya Touré's towering header earned City the win Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

John Heitinga turned a cross from Danny Simpson into his own net as Everton visited Newcastle. At that stage only 12 minutes of the match had passed Photograph: Ian Horrocks/Newcastle Utd via Getty Images

Ryan Taylor of Newcastle United scored his side's second goal - a swooping volley from the corner of the box which leaves the Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard helpless Photograph: Michael Steele/Newcastle United

His namesake, Steven Taylor, had to quell the threat from Louis Saha as Everton pressed in the second half having scored late in the first half through Jack Rodwell. Everton could not find the equaliser they desired and were later denied a penalty Photograph: Scott Heppell/AP

Norwich led at Villa Park when Anthony Pilkington curled a free-kick around the wall and beyond the reach of Shay Given Photograph: David Davies/PA

But Darren Bent tapped home Gabriel Agbonlahor's cross as the front pairing repeatedly troubled their opponents Photograph: Neville Williams/Aston Villa/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images

Agbonlahor netted in the 48th minute before Bent grabbed his second of the match with another tap in Photograph: Adam Holt/Action Images

Steve Morison's 77th minute header made for a nervy finish but Villa held on for the win Photograph: Alex Morton/Action Images

In Sunday's early kick-off, Wolves led through Jamie O'Hara before Emmerson Boyce of Wigan was felled in the box by Stephen Hunt. Ben Watson missed the subsequent penalty but knocked home the rebound to draw the visitors level at the break Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action Images

David Edwards scored in the 55th minute and Stephen Ward in the 66th minute to hand Wolves a vital home win Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

But the game was marred by an incident involving Richard Stearman, Christophe Berra and Antolín Alcaraz. The Wigan player, Alcaraz, appeared to spit in the direction of Berra and Stearman after a penalty-box confrontation Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images

Bolton enjoyed a rare win against Stoke as Kevin Davies led them on a five goal rampage. Davies struck in only the second minute following a quick free-kick Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Ivan Klasnic scored twice, as did Chris Eagles, though the win could not lift Bolton out of the relegation places Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images

Gareth Bale fired the shot from which Tottenham scored their opener at Craven Cottage against Fulham, though the final touch came off a Fulham defender on the line Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images

Aaron Lennon completed a neat exchange with Bale before driving into the box and putting Spurs 2-0 up just before the break, but an own goal from Younes Kaboul brought Fulham back into the contest Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images

Fulham should have had a penalty into the dying second as Kyle Walker fell onto the ball and handled it during a calamitous goalmouth scrabble. However, the referre did not award a spot-kick and Tottenham were able to race away and score a third goal through Jermain Defoe Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images