Champions Manchester City suffered a stunning 1-0 home defeat to Stoke City on Saturday as their cast of attacking talents were blunted in a lifeless display that cost them their first dropped points of the season.
Mame Biram Diouf scored a superb individual goal to silence the City fans who have become used to seeing one-sided romps at their Etihad stadium, especially against the Premier League's lesser lights.
It was an equally miserable day for City's rivals Manchester United whose frustrations continued in a 0-0 draw at promoted Burnley with British-record signing Angel Di Maria unable to spark an improvement in their fortunes.
Swansea City's excellent start to the season continued as they swept aside West Bromwich Albion 3-0 to move top of the fledgling table with a maximum nine points from their opening three games as Southampton came from behind to beat West Ham United 3-1.
Crystal Palace, playing their first game under new manager Neil Warnock, scored through on-loan Wilfried Zaha in the fifth minute of stoppage time to grab a 3-3 draw at Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers beat Sunderland 1-0 for their first win since gaining promotion.
Flashes
Di Maria, signed from Real Madrid for 59.7 million pounds ($98.77 million) on Tuesday, showed flashes of his talent in a 70-minute debut, but United still looked short of attacking ideas, claiming only their second point from their opening three league games.
Their defence, that were ripped apart in a 4-0 League Cup defeat to third tier MK Dons on Tuesday, still looked uncomfortable with manager Louis van Gaal's three centre back system.
"We were the stronger team, certainly in the second half," Van Gaal told BT Sport. "We created chances but you have to score. That is where we have failed. The progress is there but you have to win. Having lost their opening two games on their return to the top flight, Burnley put their first point on the board in the new campaign.
The hosts could have been 2-0 up within minutes of the kickoff as former United midfielder David Jones curled a freekick against the crossbar and some woeful defending from Jonny Evans let in Lukas Jutkiewicz, who was denied by the out-rushing David De Gea.
