LONDON, Sept 26: Australia midfielder Tim Cahill headed a late winner as Everton continued their surprising run of Premier League form with a 1-0 win at Portsmouth on Sunday.

Cahill nodded home a Lee Carsley free kick after 80 minutes as Everton clocked up a third consecutive 1-0 league win. The Australian, who was sent off after lifting his shirt over his head as he celebrated his winner against Manchester City, kept his cool after scoring at Fratton Park.

Tipped before the season as relegation candidates, Everton stayed third in the table but moved on to 16 points as David Moyes's men continue to make light of last month's sale of teenage England striker Wayne Rooney to Manchester United.

Moyes, whose side just missed the drop last season, told Sky Sports News: "For us to get 16 points on the board at this early stage is a tremendous return...we didn't play well last season and ended up badly, and we were down all summer.

Champions Arsenal are top with 19 points ahead of Chelsea on 17 after the title rivals clocked up 1-0 wins on Saturday. With Manchester United also winning 1-0, at Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool trouncing Norwich City 3-0, the weekend action saw victories for all four English teams in the coming week's Champions League games.

Arsenal, who travel to Rosenborg, extended their record unbeaten league run to 47 games with a win at Manchester City, defender Ashley Cole scoring his first league goal since August 2002.

Chelsea had to wait until nine minutes from time before Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, the club's record signing at 24 million pounds ($43.25 million), rifled home their winner at Middlesbrough.

Jose Mourinho's side face their new manager's former club in Wednesday's game against holders Porto at Stamford Bridge. Manchester United, galvanised by the return from an eight-month suspension of England defender Rio Ferdinand, clocked up their second consecutive win by beating Spurs.

Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy converted a first-half penalty to move United up to fifth place in the table as they prepare to host Fenerbahce at Old Trafford. Liverpool are away to Olympiakos after their comfortable win over Norwich, who like fellow promoted clubs West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace have yet to win a league game this season.

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