Premier League: the weekend's matches in pictures

After a week in which he scrapped with his team-mate Micah Richards during training (apparently because Richards had not passed him the ball), Manchester City's Italian striker Mario Balotelli was handed a starting place against Arsenal on Sunday Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

City's goalkeeper Joe Hart was made to work by the Gunners, whose last trip to Manchester ended in an embarrassing 8-2 defeat at Manchester United Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

In a fizzing first-half, both sides were dynamic enough to warrant a goal but neither could find the net Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Only when Balotelli's 53rd minute shot was parried by the Arsenal goalkeeper and then nudged into the path of David Silva did the Spaniard hand the home side the lead. His tap-in was City's 50th league goal of the season Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

While City have averaged more than three goals a game thus far - the best goal-scoring ratio since Tottenham back in the early 1960s - it was evident that a single goal might determine the match Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Robin van Persie hit the net with a cute chip three minutes after Silva, but he was ruled marginally offside. He and his team-mates could not find the net again. Final score: 1-0 Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Images

Earlier in the day, Craig Bellamy gave Liverpool an 11th minute advantage over hosts Aston Villa when the ball dropped to his feet three yards out. The Welshman did well to adjust himself as the ball flew at him at pace Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

With Villa weakened by injury, it was a portentous start for the home side Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Four minutes later, Bellamy whipped a corner into the box which Martin Skrtel deftly converted. Final score: 0-2 Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The earliest game of the day was held at Loftus Road where QPR hosted Manchester United. Kick off was at 12pm. Before the clock had reached 12.01, United were ahead. Wayne Rooney was the scorer at the far post with a downward header from Antonio Valencia's right wing cross Photograph: Daniel Hambury/PA

Scamp, enfant terrible, call him what you will, Joey Barton was up to usual tricks throughout the match. He may have denied Javier Hernández (as pictured), but he could not prevent Michael Carrick from escaping him to score his first goal in 70 appearances for United. Final score: 0-2 Photograph: Kerim Okten/EPA

The fourth fixture of the day saw Tottenham host Martin O'Neill's Sunderland. The two teams came into the match off the back of opposing league results - Spurs having lost to Stoke and Sunderland having beaten Blackburn. The Tottenham substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko handed the home side victory after collecting Rafael van der Vaart's sublime pass. Final score: 1-0 Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

On Saturday, Norwich and Everton stifled one another at Goodison Park - as seen here when a goal was narrowly averted. The visitors had led through Grant Holt's 28th minute strike but Everton deservedly replied in the 81st minute when Leon Osman turned Royston Drenthe's shot into the net. Final score: 1-1 Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Clint Dempsey headed the first of his side's two goals past Bolton Wanderers as Fulham, who exited the Europa League in dramatic circumstances in midweek, left Bolton rooted to the foot of the Premier League table. Final score: 2-0 Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Demba Ba's kung fu effort against Swansea proved futile as the two sides played out a goalless draw at St James Park. It was Newcastle's fifth straight game without a win. Final score: 0-0 Photograph: Ian Horrocks/Newcastle Utd via Getty Images

Peter Crouch was almost hit by a bottle after netting the winner for Stoke at Wolves. Crouch nodded in at the far post after Kevin Doyle had turned Robert Huth's long-range effort into his own net. Wolves had led through an early penalty, but they were rightly peeved that the referee did not send off the offender, Jonathan Woodgate. Final score: 1-2 Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

They may have become the first team to beat Manchester Ciity this season, but Chelsea could not defeat Wigan at the DW Stadium. Daniel Sturridge gave the Blues the lead in the 59th minute but Jordi Gómez scrambled the ball home for Wigan two minutes from time after Petr Cech had fumbled. Final score: 1-1 Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Another late goal, this time at Ewood Park, condemned Steve Kean's Blackburn to defeat against West Brom. Peter Odemwingie was the match winner. Final score: 1-2 Photograph: Paul Burrows/Action Images