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Dzeko came off the bench to score twice
Edin Dzeko struck twice to keep Manchester City in hot pursuit of leaders Chelsea.
Unbeaten Chelsea have 22 points from eight games, four more than United and champions City who looked in trouble when they trailed 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion after James Milner was sent off.
Dzeko then came off the bench to win it for Roberto Mancini's side - the second of his goals coming in stoppage time. The Bosnian is proving a super-sub this season for City.
Mancini's team were heading for defeat when the Bosnian was introduced. He equalised after 80 minutes and then, after City keeper Joe Hart had kept his side ahead, finished off a superb breakaway by the visitors to seal an unlikely victory.
Mata's double helps Chelsea beat Tottenham
In an earlier match, Juan Mata's double helped leaders Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in a captivating London derby.
Spaniard Mata crushed former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas's hopes of Premier League victory against the club that sacked him in March with a scintillating display at White Hart Lane, scoring twice in three minutes after the break to end a stirring Tottenham revival.
After the build-up to Chelsea's trip to Spurs was focused on skipper John Terry's four-game FA ban for racially insulting Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, it was replacement Gary Cahill who set the ball rolling for his side.
Cahill struck a thunderous volley to put Chelsea ahead after 17 minutes, latching on to William Gallas's poor header.
Former Chelsea defender Gallas hit back by glancing in a close-range header two minutes after the interval before Jermain Defoe's opportunist strike put Tottenham 2-1 ahead. Defoe's 200th career goal was a footnote to a great game, however, as Mata took control.
Another poor clearance by Gallas fell to Mata in the 66th minute and he took a touch before burying a shot past Brad Friedel and three minutes later Eden Hazard's astute pass allowed him to beat the American goalkeeper again.
Mata then set up substitute Daniel Sturridge to cap an impressive display from pacesetters Chelsea who have achieved back-to-back away victories at Arsenal and Tottenham.
Rooney also struck twice to keep Man United in hot pursuit
Wayne Rooney also struck twice to keep Manchester United in hot pursuit of the leaders.
Rooney marked the 10th anniversary of his wonder-goal for Everton against Arsenal as a 16-year-old with an eventful afternoon at Old Trafford.
His own goal gave Stoke City an early lead but he made amends at the right end as a rampant United ran out 4-2 winners.
At Old Trafford, Rooney was joined on the United scoresheet by Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck but while manager Alex Ferguson praised the trio he was less than pleased with defender Rio Ferdinand who refused to wear an anti-racism tee-shirt in the pre-match warm-up.
Ferdinand was one of several players around the country not to support the Kick It Out awareness day in the light of the Terry saga and events in Serbia this week when England's under 21s were racially abused by fans.
"I spoke to the press about this yesterday. It is embarrassing for me. He will be dealt with, no doubt about that," said Ferguson.
Sterling effort earns Liverpool a home win
Liverpool beat Reading 1-0 to register their first home league win of the season, courtesy Raheem Sterling's first league goal.
Sterling's goal gave manager Brendan Rodgers his maiden league win at Anfield, coincidentally against his former club.
At 17 years and 317 days, Sterling, an England under-21 international, became the Liverpool's second-youngest Premier League scorer, behind Michael Owen.
West Ham thump Southampton, Arsenal stunned
West Ham United thumped Southampton 4-1 at Upton Park.
A brace by Mark Noble helped the Hammers continue their fine start to life back in the top flight at the expense of another promoted outfit.
It was West Ham's fourth win of the season.
Kevin Nolan (pictured) and Modibo Maiga were also on target for Sam Allardyce team.
In other matches, Swansea City defeated Wigan Athletic 2-1 while Fulham also enjoyed a home victory, 1-0 against struggling Aston Villa.
In the day's final match, Norwich stunned Arsenal 1-0, courtesy an early goal by Grant Holt.