Van Persie's hat trick stuns the Saints

Southampton, England – Robin van Persie sparked a late Manchester United rally as he scored two goals in the final minutes to rescue a 3-2 victory for United at Southampton on Sunday.

The Dutchman scored all three of United's goals in the match and could have had more, but he failed to convert a second-half penalty kick.

The Saints gave a good account of themselves against United and went in front after 16 minutes through a Rickie Lambert header.

Van Persie answered for the visitors seven minutes later when he finished off a cross from Antonio Valencia to level the match at 1-1 heading into halftime.

But United failed to push on and seize control of the game and Morgan Schneiderlin restored the lead for the hosts by heading home Lambert's cross.

Southampton dodged a bullet in the 68th minute when goalkeeper Kelvin Davis saved a penalty kick from Van Persie, but he atoned for the miss in the 87th minute by stabbing home a rebound after Rio Ferdinand's header struck the post.

The goal appeared to salvage a point for United, but Van Persie had other ideas as he nodded home the winning goal two minutes into added time.

Arsenal 2, Liverpool 0

Liverpool, England - After two successive 0-0 draws to start the season, Arsenal got off the mark on Sunday with a 2-0 triumph over Liverpool at Anfield.

Lukas Podolski opened his Arsenal account just after the half-hour mark to put the Gunners in front, while fellow summer signing Santi Cazorla doubled the lead with a little over 20 minutes to play.

The result leaves Liverpool with just one point from its first three games, the club's worst start since the 1962-63 campaign.

After a good start from the home side, Arsenal finally tallied its first goal of the season in the 31st minute as Cazorla cut open the Liverpool back line with a nice ball into the path of Podolski, who beat goalkeeper Pepe Reina from 10 yards.

Liverpool teenager Raheem Sterling struck the outside of the post for the home side as the Reds tried to battle back, but more good play from Cazorla and Podolski after halftime put the result out of reach.

The duo played a clever one-two on the left side of the penalty area that released Cazorla into the box, where he drove a low shot underneath Reina at his near post.

Newcastle 1, Aston Villa 1

Newcastle, England - Aston Villa was denied three points on Sunday by a second-half rocket from Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa, whose goal helped the Magpies claim a 1-1 draw.

Ciaran Clark had Villa on course for its first win of the campaign when he scored after 22 minutes, while Newcastle was struggling to hit top gear.

The Magpies were able to put together a better second half with Ben Arfa scoring on a stunning long-range shot just before the hour mark to level the match.

After two defeats to start the season, Villa was nearly handed a third setback when a stoppage-time free kick from Yohan Cabaye required a fine stop from goalkeeper Brad Guzan to preserve the point.