LONDON - READING ended Liverpool's unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a shock 3-1 win over Rafa Benitez's team at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

The result left fourth-placed Liverpool seven points behind leaders Arsenal while Manchester United and Chelsea maintained their title challenges with home wins over Derby County and Sunderland respectively.

United beat bottom club Derby 4-1 at Old Trafford where Ryan Giggs scored his 100th league goal. Chelsea overcame Sunderland 2-0 to extend their unbeaten home league record to 71 matches.

Fifth-placed Portsmouth, who won 3-1 at Aston Villa, are also on 30 points alongside Manchester City, who play at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Mid-table Reading's victory was their first against one of the so-called 'Big Four' clubs since gaining promotion last season.

They took the lead with a controversial 17th-minute penalty from Stephen Hunt after Jamie Carragher clearly fouled Ivar Ingimarsson outside the box.

Stephen Gerrard equalised for Liverpool in the 28th but a goal from Kevin Doyle and a fine individual effort by James Harper in the 67th gave Reading the points.

Landmark goal

Earlier, United dominated against Derby but had to wait until the 40th minute to take the lead.

Derby keeper Stephen Bywater could only parry a Cristiano Ronaldo shot for Giggs to tap in his landmark goal.

Carlos Tevez scored twice to put United 3-0 ahead before Steve Howard bagged Derby's first away goal of the season after 76 minutes.

Ronaldo completed the scoring with a last-minute penalty for the home side.

Chelsea were also made to work hard against struggling Sunderland but there was never much doubt about the outcome after Andriy Shevchenko headed the Londoners in front after 23 minutes. -- REUTERS

Is this article useful to you?