Liverpool and Chelsea both now have five from five
LONDON: The foundations are being laid for one of the English Premier League’s most exhilarating, competitive title races.
For the first time since the league’s inception 26 years ago, two teams — Chelsea and Liverpool — have a 100% winning record after five matches.
Eden Hazard’s hat trick powered Chelsea to a 41 victory over Cardiff, shortly after goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino helped Liverpool overcome Tottenham 21.
Dual perfection will not last much longer, as Chelsea host Liverpool in a Stamford Bridge showdown in two weeks.
Manchester City is in the slipstream, after the defending champion maintained its unbeaten record with a
30 defeat of
Fulham, to remain two points behind the frontrunners.
Watford made an unexpectedly perfect start to the campaign, but that is now over after it was beaten 21 at home by Manchester United, which is six points off the pace.
For the first time since May 2017, Arsenal has had successive away wins in the league.
Granit Xhaka struck a long range free kick and helped to set up Mesut Ozil’s goal in a 21 victory at Newcastle for Unai Emery’s side.
Bournemouth beat visiting Leicester City 42. Scottish winger Ryan Fraser scored twice and set up another.
The wins lifts The Cherries to 10 points and fifth place.
Wilfried Zaha was rushed back from a groin injury and scored a brilliant solo goal to give Crystal Palace a 10 win at Huddersfield and its first success since the opening day.
Belgian star Hazard prepared for Chelsea’s Cardiff meeting with some encouragement and advice from Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri.
‘‘You can score 40 goals,’’ Sarri recalled telling the winger.
Hazard’s best tally since joining Chelsea in 2012 is 18, in the 201617 campaign — this season he already has six.
‘‘When I arrived I thought that Hazard was one of the best players in Europe,’’ Sarri said.
‘‘Now I have changed my mind. Maybe he is the best. But I also think he can still improve more.’’
Tottenham spent nothing in the offseason, while Liverpool invested heavily to strengthen its squad — and it showed, as the Reds were more sprightly and dangerous on the ball at Wembley.
‘‘The performance was better than the result,’’ Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said.
‘‘We could have scored more and we controlled the game.’’
The recalled Leroy Sane needed only two minutes to score in his first start of the new campaign for Manchester City, before David Silva doubled the lead and Raheem Sterling sealed the result early in the second half.
Manchester United has now won twice in a row, although manager Jose Mourinho was not completely satisfied.
‘‘In the second half, maybe our ambition went a little bit down,’’ Mourinho said.
‘‘We gave them the chance to be more aggressive.’’