Champions Liverpool suffered a humiliating 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa and Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho savoured a 6-1 win over his former club Manchester United in one of the most astonishing days in Premier League history.

Bitter rivals Liverpool and United were joined in misery on Sunday after chastening defeats that rank among the worst that English football's two most successful clubs have ever suffered.

Historians were reaching for the record books as the goals flowed, first at Old Trafford as United conceded six goals in a match for only the third time in the Premier League era, then at Villa Park as Liverpool surrendered seven goals for the first time since 1963.

For the first time since 1986, United have lost their opening two home league games of the season and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer labelled their heaviest home defeat since 2011 as "my worst day ever".

"It's very embarrassing, it hurt all the players. It hurts me as the manager," Solskjaer said.

"I'll hold my hands up, I'm responsible for this. I promise we'll do everything we can to turn this around."

Jurgen Klopp was so taken by surprise at Liverpool's collapse that he actually wore a bemused grin at times as his team fell to the biggest defeat of the German's career.

Liverpool's chief tormentor was Ollie Watkins, who became the first Villa player to score a hat-trick against the Reds for 88 years.

Watkins bagged Villa's first after a mistake by Liverpool keeper Adrian in the fourth minute.

He netted again in the 22nd minute before Mohamed Salah got one back.

John McGinn's deflected effort made it three and Watkins scored Villa's fourth before half-time.

Ross Barkley, in his debut after joining on loan from Chelsea, scored Villa's fifth after the break with the aid of a deflection.

Salah reduced the deficit but Jack Grealish netted number six before Villa's captain ran clear to cap the rout.

Second placed Villa have won all three league games this term, while Liverpool's first defeat of the season left Klopp wondering how to fix a leaky defence that has shipped 11 goals in four matches.

Just hours before Liverpool's epic meltdown, Tottenham boss Mourinho, sacked by United in 2018, inflicted a huge blow to Solskjaer's own job security.

Despite taking the lead through Bruno Fernandes' second minute penalty, United collapsed as they conceded four goals in the first half of a league match for the first time since 1957.

Tanguy Ndombele equalised in the fourth minute after dismal defending from Harry Maguire and South Korea forward Son Heung-min made it two from Harry Kane's seventh minute quick free-kick.

United were reduced to 10 men when Anthony Martial was harshly sent off in the 28th minute for his reaction to a push from Erik Lamela.

That opened the floodgates as United surrendered, with Kane grabbing Tottenham's third in the 31st minute after stealing Eric Bailly's weak pass.

United were in disarray and Serge Aurier crossed for Son's close-range finish in the 37th minute.

Aurier drilled home in the 51st minute and Kane made it six with a 79th minute penalty.

"To win 6-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford is an honour for all of us, considering the dimension of Manchester United and Old Trafford," Mourinho said.

Arsenal beat Sheffield United 2-1 to make it three wins from four games.

Mikel Arteta's men opened the scoring on the hour mark when Bukayo Saka headed home Hector Bellerin's cross.

Bellerin was the provider again moments later as Nicolas Pepe drove forward to curl the ball in off the far post.

David McGoldrick halved the deficit seven minutes from time with the Blades first league goal of the season, but they remain without a point.

Leicester's perfect start came to a shuddering halt with a 3-0 defeat at home to West Ham.

Southampton beat West Brom 2-0, while Wolves defeated Fulham 1-0. (AFP)

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