Brighton pays price as Everton makes record start
LONDON: Everton beat Brighton & Hove Albion 42 while Chelsea crushed Crystal Palace 40 in English Premier League games yesterday.
James Rodriguez scored a secondhalf double as Everton beat Brighton & Hove Albion 42 to maintain its 100% record and claim top spot in the Premier League.
Dominic CalvertLewin and Yerry Mina scored the goals as Everton made it four wins out of four, putting it three points ahead of champion Liverpool and
Leicester, which each play today.
Chelsea is fourth after a 40 win over Crystal Palace while Manchester City dropped points for the second weekend in succession as it was held to a 11 draw at newly promoted Leeds United.
Everton made the perfect start when striker CalvertLewin netted his ninth goal in all competitions this season after just 16 minutes. Brighton drew level four minutes from the break when Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford dropped the ball and gifted Neal Maupay an easy goal.
But Colombian defender Mina restored Everton’s lead just before halftime, heading home Rodriguez’s freekick to put Everton 21 up at the break. In the second half, James raced away to collect his first home goal and followed it with another in the 70th minute.
Yves Bissouma scored a stunning longrange goal for Brighton in injury time but Everton had already ensured its seventh win in all competitions, a clubrecord start for the Toffees.
‘‘Brighton had possession but we were composed defensively and had opportunities to score on the counterattack. We were good on setpieces as usual,’’ Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti said.
At Stamford Bridge, new signing Ben Chilwell scored his first goal for Chelsea as it crushed
Palace. The England international scored the opener five minutes into the second half. Chilwell then set up Kurt Zouma for a second goal on 66 minutes before two Jorginho penalties completed the rout.
‘‘In the first half, we were patient but maybe didn’t take enough risks in the final third,’’ Chilwell said.
Manchester City had 23 shots to Leeds’ 12 but could not make it count as it lost more ground on the leader. Raheem Sterling curled City in front after just 17 minutes but a mistake from goalkeeper Ederson gifted new Leeds signing Rodrigo an equaliser just before the hour mark.
Leeds hit the post through a Liam Cooper header while Ederson redeemed himself with a great save from Rodrigo and Manchester City had a penalty appeal rejected.
Callum Wilson scored twice to lead Newcastle to a 31 victory that left Burnley without a point after three matches. Newcastle is sixth with seven points from four games. — AAP