Manchester United [Images] made it two wins out of two in the fledgling Premier League season as Ruud van Nistelrooy [Images] scored the only goal in a 1-0 home success against a toothless Aston Villa on Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur also made it two in a row, though for the Londoners it was the first time they had managed it for 11 years, as they beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at White Hart Lane.

European champions Liverpool beat Sunderland 1-0, while champions Chelsea host last season's runners-up Arsenal [Images] in the weekend's top game on Sunday.

Manchester United fully deserved the points against a Villa side who played with one striker, defended from the start and never looked likely to end their 22-year run without an Old Trafford victory over the hosts.

Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung had a shot tipped on to the crossbar by goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen in the first half as United were kept at long range for an hour.

However, the introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo [Images] turned the match as the Portuguese winger immediately stretched the game before crossing for Van Nistelrooy to tuck in the winner in the 66th minute.

It was the Dutchman's third goal in three games this season and he looks to have recovered the zest that was absent in an injury-hit 2004/2005 season. Only a goalline clearance by former team mate Eric Djemba Djemba prevented him claiming another.

United manager Alex Ferguson was delighted to have his chief goalscorer back in the groove.

"His fitness in pre-season has been fantastic and we are getting the benefit of that," he said.

"It is important for the team that Ruud scores because once he gets on a run he is unstoppable.

"Ruud's last season was fragmented and it was partly our fault for bringing him back too early. But in his first two seasons here he scored 36 and 44 goals and he is capable of doing that again."

NEGATIVE APPROACH

Villa boss David O'Leary, still without an Old Trafford win in 14 attempts as a manager, defended his side's negative approach.

"I'm an attack-minded coach and like to take people on but circumstances dictated my plans because we had a few players injured," he said.

While United fans routinely expect a winning start, Tottenham supporters merely hope.

This season, however, Martin Jol's attractive-looking side have made an encouraging start to raise the hopes of their fans.

England [Images] striker Jermain Defoe, who also scored in last week's 2-0 win at Portsmouth, got things moving on Saturday with a well-struck 20-metre shot after 49 minutes.

Egypt [Images] striker Mido made the game safe in the 75th when his weak effort from outside the box somehow got past Mark Schwarzer.

Tottenham coach Martin Jol said he was pleased with his side's start. "It's nice because people have been expecting a lot from us so we have to live up to that," said the Dutchman.

"People must remember that we are a young team but we kept another clean sheet today and I'm very pleased."

Liverpool, disappointing in a goalless draw at Middlesbrough last week, looked a little more like European champions as they proved too good for Sunderland.

Xavi Alonso got the only goal with a sweetly-struck free kick after 24 minutes and Sunderland's hopes of a late comeback were effectively ended with a mysterious red card for Andrew Welsh in the 74th minute.

Elsewhere Charlton Athletic made it two out of two with a 1-0 home win over promoted Wigan Athletic, West Bromwich Albion beat Portsmouth 2-1, Blackburn Rovers beat Fulham 2-1 while Newcastle United could not break down 10-man West Ham United in a 0-0 St James' Park draw.

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