Blues nail nine in a row thanks to Costa strike
DIEGO COSTA’S fifth goal in six games broke West Brom’s stubborn resistance and sealed Chelsea’s ninth consecutive Premier League victory.
The Blues won out 1-0 at Stamford Bridge courtesy of Costa’s piledriver, a goal that owed everything to the Spain hitman’s hard running.
The relentless Costa robbed Gareth McAuley on the right flank before firing past a helpless Ben Foster in the Albion goal.
Liverpool lost ground with a 2-2 draw at home to West Ham.
Adam Lallana gave the Reds an early lead but the Hammers replied through Dimitri Payet and took the lead as Michail Antonio netted.
Liverpool salvaged a point with Divock Origi scoring early in the second half.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s thumping strike saw Manchester United overcome Tottenham, but the in-form Armenian’s serious-looking injury took the edge off a much-needed victory.
Mkhitaryan marked another fine display with an excellent first-half strike against Tottenham, securing a 1-0 victory that the attacking midfielder was unable to celebrate properly after exiting on a stretcher.
Sofiane Boufal’s first Premier League goal was one to remember as his stunning 25-yard strike sealed Southampton a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.
The Moroccan’s moment of magic proved decisive at St Mary’s in a game of few clear-cut chances.
Southampton’s victory moves them up to 10th in the table while Middlesbrough remain 16th, after just one win in five games.
Jamie Vardy plundered a hat-trick as Premier League champions Leicester returned to form with a 4-2 win over Manchester City, after Arsenal earlier moved above.
England forward Vardy brought his 16-game goal drought for the Foxes to an end after just three minutes at the King Power Stadium when he slotted in after a pass from Islam Slimani.
Leicester, struck again just two minutes later when Andy King curled the ball into the roof of the net.
Vardy was on the mark once more in the 20th minute when he latched onto a brilliant cushioned lay-off from Riyad Mahrez into the City box and rounded Claudio Bravo to slot home.
With 12 minutes left, Vardy completed his treble when intercepting a stray pass from John Stones before beating Bravo again, the ball going over the line off the post from a tight angle.
City defender Aleksandar Kolarov netted a free-kick in the 82nd minute before Nolito knocked in another late consolation for Pep Guardiola’s well-beaten team.
In the afternoon kick-offs, Arsenal came from behind to beat Stoke 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
Swansea moved off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Sunderland at the Liberty Stadium, Crystal Palace earned dramatic 3-3 draw at Hull, and Burnley beat Bournemouth 3-2 at Turf Moor.