English Premier League roundup: Pardew says his unbeaten side are ready for the best

A hard-fought 2-1 victory over Everton at St James’ Park took the Magpies’ points tally for the new campaign to 25 out of a possible 33.

And the win extended their undefeated run to 11 games, equalling a club record set in 1950-51 and matched in 1994-95.

Newcastle now face trips to Manchester City and Manchester United on successive weekends before Chelsea head for Tyneside and Pardew said: “That inner belief is very, very important. We are going to the best in Europe in the next two games and we couldn’t be better-placed to do it.”

Newcastle went ahead in 12 minutes when John Heitinga turned Danny Simpson’s cross into his own net and Ryan Taylor’s made it two with a stunning 29th-minute strike.

But Everton’s Jack Rodwell headed home a corner in first-half injury time and they had a strong appeal for a second-half penalty turned down.

Robin van Persie, netted the first and turned provider for both Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta as Arsenal beat West Brom 3-0 at The Emirates.

The Gunners skipper netted his 11th league goal of the campaign from close range after Ben Foster blocked a Theo Walcott effort. Vermaelen then got his first goal for almost two years as he turned in a Van Persie cross and, after the break, Arteta fired home after neat work by his Dutchman team-mate.

Frank Lampard directed a second-half header past Paul Robinson as wobbly Chelsea clung on to a precious clean sheet to secure the points with a 1-0 win at Blackburn.

And, while Lampard did the business by stooping to nod home a low Branislav Ivanovic cross on 50 minutes, struggling Rovers had numerous late chances to claim at least a draw.

Ultimately the result left Rovers rooted in the bottom three while a plane circled Ewood Park trailing a banner which bore the slogan “Steve Kean Out”.

Andy Carroll was the fall-guy for Liverpool after missing a first-half sitter in the goal-less draw at home to Swansea. For the second successive home match against a newly-promoted team, Kenny Dalglish’s side failed to convert their chances. Carroll’s was the miss everyone will remember, although there were enough opportunities created afterwards to have prevented a third home draw in a row.

The £35m club-record signing side-footed against the bar from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

Aston Villa striker Darren Bent had a two-goal blast to seal a 3-2 victory over Norwich. His strike partner Gabriel set up both of Bent’s goals and scored one himself.

The Canaries had taken the lead through an Anthony Pilkington free-kick but crumbled once Bent had levelled before half-time although Steve Morison’s late goal gave the home side a nervy finale