Abraham leads way for five-star Chelsea
The 21-year-old striker’s hat-trick powers Lampard’s side; leaders Liverpool, Spurs ease to victories
WOLVERHAMPTON: Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham scored a superb hat-trick as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-2 in their Premier League clash on Saturday, spoiling the home side’s celebration of the 130th anniversary of their Molineux Stadium. Abraham struck in the 34th, 41st and 55th minutes before being credited with an own goal and then limping off.
The game burst into life just past the half-hour mark when Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori’s dipping drive from outside the box wrong-footed Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio and flew into the net to give the visitors the lead. Abraham struck his first goal three minutes later, making the most of the advantage granted by referee Graham Scott to take a touch and swivel before firing home, and he headed a second before halftime to send his side into the break 3-0 up.
The Chelsea academy product, who has spent spells on loan at Bristol City, Swansea City and Aston Villa, completed his hattrick 11 minutes into the second half before being replaced by Michy Batshuayi after 77 minutes.
Wolves pulled a goal back in the 69th when Romain Saiss’s header went in off Abraham for an own goal and striker Patrick Cutrone bundled home another in the 85th, five minutes before Mason Mount fired home Chelsea’s fifth to complete the rout.
With seven goals in five games, the 21-year-old Abraham is now the Premier League’s top scorer, one ahead of Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.
“I hope this is my season. I have to keep working hard in every training session, every game. Every game I want to prove myself to the gaffer,” he said.
REDS MAINTAIN LEAD
Liverpool recovered from a shock Newcastle opener to open up a five-point lead at the top with a 3-1 win at Anfield, as Tottenham bounced back to form with a big win. Spurs were 4-0 up by halftime against Crystal Palace to record just their second win of the season as Son Heung-min scored twice, while Erik Lamela and an own goal from Patrick van Aanholt rounded off the scoring on a miserable day for the Eagles.
An injury-hit Manchester United also coped without Paul Pogba to inflict Leicester City’s first defeat of the season as Marcus Rashford scored the only goal from the penalty spot at Old Trafford.
United join Tottenham and Chelsea on eight points from five games, but Liverpool protected the only 100 per cent record in the league by reacting to a slow start in style.
LIVERPOOL RALLY
Jetro Willems fired Newcastle in front on seven minutes to leave the European champions trailing at Anfield for the first time since March. Sadio Mane fired into the top corner to start the revival, but it was the introduction of Roberto Firmino off the bench for the injured Divock Origi that truly turned the tide in Liverpool’s favour.
The Brazilian’s through ball was spilled by Martin Dubravka to allow Mane a simple task for his second just before half-time, and another brilliant Firmino flick teed up Salah to seal the points 18 minutes from time. “I started enjoying after 25 minutes, around about when we arrived finally in the game,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. “Second-half we scored only one goal, but we played really good football and I liked it a lot.”
SON DOUBLE FOR SPURS
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino hoped that the end of the European transfer window would settle his squad and the Champions League finalists looked more like their old selves by tearing apart Crystal Palace from the off.
Son was the star as the South Korean opened the scoring then finished off a fine team move by volleying home Serge Aurier’s cross after Van Aanholt deflected a cross into his own net.
“I think the players deserve more than three points today,” said Son.
Harry Kane was unable to build on his goalscoring form for England, but did play a part in the fourth as his cross was turned home by Lamela.
United had to suffer far more for just a second win in 10 league matches. Rashford shrugged off his recent miss from the spot in defeat to Palace to convert a penalty on eight minutes after he had been brought down by Caglar Soyuncu.
“We hung in there. It was the first time this season where we have had to defend for large periods,” said United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“We have dominated the other games but today we saw a team that could defend in their own half.
Brighton edged out Burnley 1-0 at the Amex thanks to Neil Maupay’s winner early in the second-half. Southampton were also 1-0 victors at Sheffield United.
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