Manchester United came out on top in a pulsating encounter at White Hart Lane in North London as they overcame Tottenham 3-1.
Spurs have been in form of the decade during the early part of the season and it took just 58 seconds for the sensation Jermain Defoe to put the ball in United net with an overhead kick. The chance was created following a loose pass by Berbatov, to Darren Fletcher, allowing Wilson Palacios to slide in. Robbie Keane shifted the ball to Benoit Assou-Ekotto and his cross to the far post saw Peter Crouch challenge Nemanja Vidic. Vidic appeared to get the last touch as the ball went into the danger zone, leaving Defoe to execute his bicycle-kick into the bottom corner.
But the Red Devils showed why they are champions by shrugging off the early setback and dominating the rest of the first half, with Ryan Giggs curling home an superb equalizer in the 25th minute. The superb free kick keeps the amazing record of scoring in every premier league season. Palacios had received a yellow card for the tackle on Berbatov that led to the free-kick, 25 yards from goal. Giggs' set-play curled over Keane in the wall and into the top corner.
Dimitar Berbatov missed an excellent opportunity to score against his former club before Anderson made it 2-1 with a powerful finish just before the break. The Brazil midfielder drilled into the bottom corner from the edge of the area after Scholes' long-range effort was blocked by Ledley King.
There was more drama to come in the second half as Paul Scholes was sent off for a second bookable offence, evoking Sir Alex Ferguson’s anger, while Ben Foster and Carlo Cudicini both produced excellent saves. The ten men of United contained Tottenham comfortably and Wayne Rooney then fired in a third 12 minutes from time to seal an impressive victory.
