Scholes nets in Man United romp

Veteran midfielder Scholes converted from close range in the 51st minute before Mexico striker Javier Hernandez added United's second from Buttner's assist 12 minutes later.

Dutch defender Buttner, signed last month from Vitesse Arnhem, extended the lead with an impressive solo effort in the 66th minute, and Powell, a northern summer arrival from Crewe Alexandra, added a fourth in the 82nd minute having come off the bench.

The host had been controversially awarded an early penalty when Ali Al Habsi was judged to have fouled Danny Welbeck, with justice seeming to be done as the Oman shot-stopper kept out Hernandez's attempt from the spot.

United's win takes it up to second in the table on nine points, one point behind leader Chelsea, whose 100 per cent start to the league campaign came to an end as it drew 0-0 at Queens Park Rangers.

There had been considerable focus on what happened before kick-off at Loftus Road, with Hoops defender Anton Ferdinand rejecting the offer of John Terry and Ashley Cole's outstretched hands at the pre-match handshake.

It was the first time that Ferdinand and Terry had met on a football field since the Chelsea and England centre-back's race trial in July, where Cole testified as a character witness for his Blues team-mate.

Terry was found not guilty of using a racial slur against Ferdinand after an incident in the corresponding fixture between the two clubs last October, but remains the subject of a Football Association investigation over charges that he denies.

Arsenal beat Southampton 6-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

It had three points effectively sewn up at the interval, as own goals from Jos Hooiveld and Nathaniel Clyne either side of strikes by Lukas Podolski and Gervinho handed the Gunners a commanding lead before Danny Fox pulled one back.

Gervinho and Theo Walcott - playing against his old club - netted in the second half to complete the rout as the host extended its unbeaten start to the season to four league games, moving up to third, a point behind United.

Champion Manchester City is level on points with Arsenal in fourth after its 1-1 draw with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

City has struggled away against the Potters in recent years and fell behind in the 15th minute as Peter Crouch - scorer of a memorable strike in this fixture last term - showed good footwork before finishing past Joe Hart.

The visitor made it 1-1 in the 35th minute as midfielder Javi Garcia, one of three players on debut for City, headed in from Carlos Tevez's cross.

Michael Owen came on to make his debut for Stoke, which was clinging on at the end as goalkeeper Asmir Begovic made a stunning save to deny Garcia and Potters captain Ryan Shawcross cleared an Edin Dzeko effort off the line.

Elsewhere, Dimitar Berbatov marked his first start and home debut for Fulham with two first-half goals, one from the penalty spot, to put it firmly in the driving seat in its home game against West Bromwich Albion.

The Baggies were reduced to 10 men between Berbatov's goals when Peter Odemwingie was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Sascha Riether.

Steve Sidwell completed the Cottagers' 3-0 triumph with a follow-up strike with a minute from time, reacting when Hugo Rodallega hit the bar.

Aston Villa secured its first league win of the season, defeating Swansea City 2-0 at home.

Northern summer signing Matthew Lowton opened his Villa account with a volley just after the quarter-hour mark and another new arrival, Christian Benteke, also got off the mark by netting in the 88th minute having been introduced as a substitute to make his debut.

In the lunchtime kick-off, Norwich City and West Ham United played out a 0-0 draw at Carrow Road.

The day's late kick-off saw Liverpool move out of the relegation zone as a Luis Suarez strike secured it a point at Sunderland.

Suarez netted with just under 20 minutes to go to make it 1-1 after Steven Fletcher had opened the scoring in the 29th minute, the Scotland striker's third goal in two games since joining the Black Cats from Wolverhampton Wanderers.