Liverpool wins to extend perfect run
LONDON: Leader Liverpool held off a secondhalf fightback to win 21 at Chelsea yesterday and maintain its perfect start to the English Premier League season.
Trent AlexanderArnold and Roberto Firmino scored the vital goals as Liverpool made it six wins out of six this season — and 15 league wins in a row — to restore its fivepoint lead at the top of the table.
Arsenal climbed to fourth after a 32 win over Aston Villa, despite playing almost an hour with 10 men.
Manchester United’s poor start continued as it was beaten 20 at West Ham while Crystal Palace drew 11 with Wolves.
Liverpool was 20 up at halftime through a superb free kick from AlexanderArnold and a header from Firmino.
Chelsea had a goal ruled out for offside but reduced the deficit in the second half when N’Golo Kante fired the ball into the top corner with 20 minutes to go.
That sparked a frenzy of Chelsea attacks but it could not find the equaliser and Liverpool moved clear again at the top while the home team slipped to 11th.
Tenman Arsenal twice came from behind to beat Aston Villa and take a place in the top four. John McGinn put Villa in front and, although Ainsley MaitlandMiles was sent off before halftime, Arsenal equalised through Nicolas Pepe.
Wesley restored Villa’s lead almost immediately but Calum Chambers levelled and PierreEmerick Aubameyang won it for Arsenal with six minutes to go.
Andriy Yarmolenko and Aaron Cresswell scored the goals as West Ham moved up to fifth with a well deserved win over United, which dropped to seventh after its second defeat in six matches.
Diogo Jota scored in the fifth minute of injury time to give Wolves a draw at Crystal Palace. — DPA