Premier League round-up

Fernando Torres and Mario Balotelli both scored twice to earn wins for Liverpool and Manchester City, while Arsenal were beaten by Newcastle at the Emirates.

Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea

A first half brace for Fernando Torres was enough to give Liverpool victory over league leaders Chelsea at Anfield.

Torres has bore the brunt of criticism for his performances so far this season, but the Spaniard has a fantastic record against Chelsea and his two goals this afternoon took his tally to seven goals in eight games against the champions.

Torres opened the scoring for Roy Hodgson’s side after 11 minutes when he brought down Dirk Kuyt’s lobbed through ball and slotted the ball past the onrushing Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal.

He doubled the hosts' lead on the stroke of half time after cutting inside Branislav Ivanovic on the left wing and curling a beautiful effort into the far corner.

Chelsea brought Didier Drogba on at half-time in an attempt to get themselves back into the game and the Blues enjoyed the majority of possession in the second half.

Florent Malouda went close from Drogba’s cross but saw his effort saved by Pepe Reina, while Nicolas Anelka saw an effort parried by Reina onto the crossbar with Jamie Carragher on hand to prevent Drogba from getting the rebound.

Liverpool held onto victory and move up to ninth in the table. Chelsea, meanwhile, remain on top of the table, two points clear of second placed Manchester United.

West Brom 0-2 Manchester City

Mario Balotelli scored twice but was later sent off as Manchester City defeated West Brom at the Hawthorns.

The Italian striker scored twice in the space of six minutes in the first half as City put an end to a run of three consecutive defeats ahead of the eagerly anticipated Manchester derby on Wednesday.

Balotelli put City in front after 20 minutes with a close range finish from Carlos Tevez’s cross after David Silva played a prominent role in the build up.

Silva was involved again in Balotelli’s second goal six minutes later, lofting a ball over the West Brom defence, which Balotelli ran on to and held off Gabriel Tamas to finish.

Both sides were reduced to ten men in the second half – firstly Balotelli was sent off for two yellow card offences, while Youssuf Mulumbu was dismissed for the Baggies for a dangerous challenge from behind on Carlos Tevez.

City are now level with Arsenal in fourth place on 20 points, while West Brom drop back to tenth place on 15 points.

Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle

Newcastle followed up their hammering of Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby last weekend with a single goal victory over Arsenal at the Emirates.

Andy Carroll headed the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time after Arsenal ‘keeper Lucasz Fabianski made a hash of Joey Barton’s free-kick.

Both Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott hit the crossbar for the Gunners, but Chris Hughton’s side were well worth their victory after an extremely disciplined performance.

Laurent Koscielny was sent off late on for Arsenal, who remain in third place on 20 points. Newcastle are three points further back in fifth place on 17 points.