Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United enjoyed comfortable wins in the English Premier League on Saturday as fans returned to stadiums after an eight-month absence.
Touching tributes have poured in from Manchester's two football clubs, as well as a number of prominent players have expressed their condolences to the family and friends of the victims, some of whom were young children.
Skipper Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Chelsea 5-3 in a remarkable Premier League match at Stamford Bridge but Manchester City stayed top of the Premier League with a 3-1 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
ManchesterCity and Manchester United scored 10 goals between them and boosted their title aspirations with convincing wins over NorwichCity and Fulham respectively on an eventful afternoon in the Premier League on Saturday.
Updates from around the different clubs in the English Premier League
Responding to an initiative already run by fans of both clubs, City and United will donate 50,000 pounds each to the Trussell Trust, a support network of more than 1,200 food banks.
Manchester rivals City and United have so far not taken their domestic form into Europe and will be among 15 teams attempting to win their first matches in the Champions League group stage this week.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
Manchester City and United ground out a tepid 0-0 draw as Michael Essien's goal earned Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Fulham and a four-point cushion at the top of the Premier League on Wednesday.
Both Manchester clubs remain unbeaten in the league with City atop the standings on 22 points and United two points behind after eight league games, followed by Tottenham Hotspur and Watford in third and fourth respectively.
Belgium's World Cup clash against England on Thursday could feel like a Tottenham training ground for players on both sides but defender Jan Vertonghen insists there will be no joking around.
English Premier League clubs spent some 485 million pounds ($789 million) in the summer transfer window, a 33 percent rise on last year, according to analysis published by advisory firm Deloitte on Thursday.
Manchester City went top of the Premier League when they beat Aston Villa 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday after Manchester United dropped two points in a 1-1 draw at Liverpool. City won with goals from Mario Balotelli, Adam Johnson, Vincent Kompany and James Milner against his former club and moved on to 22 points from their eight matches, two points clear of United who are on 20.
'We knew it was going to be hard to play against them, but I give all the praise to the lads for the hard work.'
Premier League leaders Leicester City can win the title but their players must prove they can cope with the pressure of expectation, says Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal.
Premier League leaders Manchester City won their derby with United 3-1, while Liverpool kept pace with a home win over Fulham.
Freezing temperatures and heavy snow have forced the postponement of this week's League Cup semi-final first leg matches.
London clubs' erratic start to the Premier League season improved with victories for Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal on Saturday but Manchester sides continued to make the running, with City and United the top two.
Manchester City continued their imperious start to the season with a 2-1 win over Swansea City to reach the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday but it was a testing night for rivals United who eventually overcame Northampton Town 3-1.
Rediff.com brings a preview of the main matches coming up this weekend in the English Premier League.
Manchester United are likely to welcome back captain Wayne Rooney from suspension for their visit to Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday, hoping the striker can add to his record scoring tally in the derby.
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