Daniel Sturridge scored the winner as Liverpool beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the day's final Premier League match.
The Birmingham-born striker, who started his youth career with Villa, delivered a moment of pure quality midway through the first half, receiving Jose Enrique's left-wing pass before dancing past two defenders, rounding Brad Guzan and transferring his balance to poke home with his left foot.
It came after the England international fired the Reds to a 1-0 opening-day win over Stoke, leaving Brendan Rodgers' side with six points from their first two league games for the first time since 2008.
In the day's first match, Lukas Podolski scored twice as Arsenal claimed a first victory of the Premier League season with a 3-1 win against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
A 3-1 opening day loss at home to Aston Villa resulted in Arsenal supporters questioning Arsene Wenger's status as manager, expressing their unhappiness at the Gunners' lack of progress in the transfer market.
Victory in the Champions League qualifying first leg at Fenerbahce quietened the dissenters and first-half strikes from Olivier Giroud and Podolski lifted the mood further.
Germany striker Podolski, who has been linked with a move away from London as Wenger bids to reshape his squad before the September 2 closure of the transfer window, converted another devastating Arsenal counter-attack for a third.
On-loan Aston Villa striker Darren Bent netted on his first Fulham appearance in reply.
Premier League
A Villa 0 - 1 Liverpool
Everton 0 - 0 West Brom
Hull City 1 - 0 Norwich
Stoke City 2 - 1 C Palace
Southampto 1 - 1 Sunderland
Newcastle 0 - 0 West Ham
Fulham 1 - 3 Arsenal
In one of the five 3pm kick-offs, Stoke recovered from a half-time deficit to beat promoted Crystal Palace 2-1 in Mark Hughes' first home match in charge at the Britannia Stadium.
Marouane Chamakh's first Premier League goal since 2011 put Palace ahead in the 31st minute but Stoke turned the game on its head with two goals in quick succession after the break.
Charlie Adam drew the teams level in the 58th minute and then four minutes later Ryan Shawcross slammed home the winning goal for Stoke.
Palace's fellow top-flight newcomers Hull survived the 27th-minute dismissal of Yannick Sagbo to defeat Norwich 1-0 at home.
Robbie Brady's 22nd-minute penalty, given after former Tiger Michael Turner pulled down Sagbo inside the area, put Hull ahead but the hosts suffered a blow soon after when Sagbo was handed a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident.
However, Norwich could not make the most of their numerical advantage as Steve Bruce's men claimed the three points.
The other two Premier League matches failed to produce a goal, with Everton being held at home by West Brom and Sam Allardyce's West Ham getting a point from the trip to his former club Newcastle.
Marouane Fellaini, subject of an approach from Manchester United this week, struck the post late on as Everton created the better chances at Goodison Park.
A Seamus Coleman effort also rattled the woodwork as the game entered injury time but the Baggies held on for a point in a lively finish.
At St James' Park, Newcastle sub Sammy Ameobi's injury-time cross caught the inside of Jussi Jaaskelainen's post and bounced back out to Yoan Gouffran who somehow contrived to spoon the rebound over the bar from point-blank range.
The near-miss summed up the frustrations of the home side who once again started without Yohan Cabaye in their matchday squad and failed to muster a single shot on target through the afternoon.
Sunderland Fixtures ...
Tuesday August 27
19:45 League Cup - 2nd Rnd Sunderland v MK Dons
Saturday August 31
17:30 Premier League Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Saturday September 14
15:00 Premier League Sunderland v Arsenal
Saturday September 21
15:00 Premier League West Brom v Sunderland
Sunday September 29
16:00 Premier League Sunderland v Liverpool
SUNDERLAND SQUAD NUMBERS
5 Brown, Wesley Michael
6 Tavares Varela, Adilson
7 Larsson, Sebastian Bengt Ulf
8 Gardner, Craig
9 Fletcher, Steven Kenneth
10 Wickham, Connor Neil Ralph
11 Johnson, Adam
12 Celustka, Ondrej
13 Pickford, Jordan Lee
14 Colback, Jack Raymond
15 Vaughan, David Owen
16 O'Shea, John Francis
17 Altidore, Josmer
18 Mandron, Mikael
19 Karlsson, David Moberg
20 Westwood, Keiren
21 Diakite, Modibo
22 Ba, El Hadji
23 Giaccherini, Emanuele
24 Cuellar Jimenez, Carlos Javier
25 Mannone, Vito
27 Ji, Dong Won
28 Sessegnon, Stephane
29 Roberge, Valentin
33 Cattermole, Lee Barry