Fernando Torres scored twice as Liverpool held off a brave fightback from West Ham to claim a deserved 3-2 victory at Upton Park and continue their revival in the Premier League title race.

Rafael Benitez's side, who lost two of their opening three games, are now third in the table after this run of three straight wins while the Hammers now find themselves down in 14th place.

Torres put the Reds in front in the 19th minute with a fine solo goal but debutant Alessandro Diamanti levelled from the penalty spot.

Dirk Kuyt restored Liverpool's lead in the 40th minute but Carlton Cole levelled a minute before the interval. Torres settled a pulsating game when he headed home from close range in the 75th minute.

Meanwhile a brace from summer signing Thomas Vermaelen set Arsenal on their way to a comfortable 4-0 victory against Wigan at the Emirates Stadium.

The former Ajax defender rose well at the near post to head past a static Chris Kirkland from Robin van Persie's corner in the 25th minute.

Vermaelen did even better shortly after the break when he played a fine one-two with Emmanuel Eboue before curling a stunning effort into the top left corner.

Arsenal all but sealed the win 10 minutes later when Eduardo's shot rattled back off the post and Gael Clichy ensured it fell back to the Croatian who fired it home, although it hit Eboue on the way in.

And they added a fourth in stoppage time when Cesc Fabregas slotted home Nicklas Bendtner's cross.

Bottom-placed Portsmouth's woes continued at Aston Villa as Martin O'Neill's side beat them 2-0.

James Milner's 34th-minute penalty set the hosts on their way. David James guessed the right way but Milner's spot-kick had sufficient pace and power to beat him following Nadir Belhadj's shove on Stiliyan Petrov.

Gabriel Agbonlahor doubled Villa's cushion two minutes before the break, getting the better of Tal Ben Haim before unleashing a brilliant finish into the top-left corner.

Bolton snatched a late draw against Stoke to pick up their first point at the Reebok Stadium this season.

Dave Kitson gave Stoke the lead in the 53rd minute when he turned Sam Ricketts before drilling a powerful effort into the far corner.

It looked as if the visitors were going to pick up a valuable three points but, two minutes from time, Ricketts was brought down by Danny Collins and Matt Taylor converted from the spot for the second week running.

Elsewhere, Birmingham picked up their first away points of the season with a 1-0 win at Hull.

The deadlock was finally broken 15 minutes from time when Garry O'Connor headed Keith Fahey's corner into the bottom right corner.

In Saturday's early kick-off, loan star David Nugent made a dramatic start to his Burnley career with two late goals to sink Sunderland 3-1 and keep his side's proud 100% home record intact.

Deadline-day signing Nugent rose to head home Wade Elliott's 67th-minute free-kick nine minutes after replacing Martin Paterson - then struck again in the 86th minute to seal the points.

Graham Alexander's 12th-minute penalty had put the home side in front before Andy Reid's cross set up Darren Bent to slot home the equaliser six minutes before half-time.