Chelsea goes 2nd as Gunners held

CHELSEA went second in the English Premier League with a comfortable 4-0 win at Burnley yesterday which maintained its unbeaten start to the season.

The London club is two points behind leader Liverpool and one point ahead of champion Manchester City, which is at Tottenham Hotspur today.

Maurizio Sarri’s side barely felt the absence of Eden Hazard as Willian, starting in the Belgian’s normal position on the left, scored and hit a post.

Spain striker Alvaro Morata gave Chelsea the lead midway through a first half in which he might have netted three times. England midfielder Ross Barkley set him up for that goal and added the second himself from outside the penalty area early in the second half.

Brazilian Willian curled the third past Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart five minutes later and substitute Ruben LoftusCheek completed the scoring in stoppage-time.

In the other early EPL game yesterday, two penalties by Luka Milivojevic earned Crystal Palace a battling 2-2 draw at home to high-flying Arsenal.

Palace captain Milivojevic, who missed a penalty at Everton last week, converted one just before halftime, after Shkodran Mustafi tripped Cheikh Kouyate. It was the South London side’s first goal at home in five games this season.

Granit Xhaka equalized with a fierce free kick early in the second half and PierreEmerick Aubameyang scored a controversial second for Arsenal five minutes later. The goal was contentious because Alexandre Lacazette flicked the ball on from a corner using his outstretched hand.

Milivojevic’s second penalty six minutes from time earned Palace a point to move Roy Hodgson’s team up to 14th.

Arsenal stayed fourth but ended a run of 11 successive wins in all competitions and lost ground on Chelsea.