Hazard hat trick sends Blues to top of the table
MATCH STATS
CHELSEA climbed to the top of the Premier League table after Eden Hazard’s hat-trick inspired Maurizio Sarri’s side to a 4-1 comeback victory over Cardiff.
Cardiff took a shock lead in the 16th minute when Sol Bamba bundled in from close-range after Sean Morrison had headed the ball into his path.
Chelsea pulled themselves level in the 37th minute when Hazard burst up the field before firing into the bottom corner from just outside the area.
Hazard was on the scoresheet again two minutes before the break.
And the Belgian forward completed his h a t - t r i c k from the p e n a l t y spot in the 80th minute after Willian had been fouled in the box, before Willian put the icing on the cake when he unleashed a fierce strike into the top corner two minutes later.
Liverpool also maintained their 100 per cent league record with a 2-1 victory over injury-hit Tottenham in the day’s early kickoff at Wembley.
Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino scored Liverpool’s goals either side of the break, with Spurs goalkeeper Michel Vorm at fault for both strikes.
David Silva scored his 50th Premier League goal for Manchester City as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Fulham.
Bournemouth moved up to fifth in the table after recording a thumping 4-2 victory over 10-man Leicester.
Wilfried Zaha scored on his return from injury as Crystal Palace edged past Huddersfield 1-0.
Palace talisman Zaha put them in front seven minutes before half-time when he bounded into the box before striking the ball into the top corner.
The home side came close to finding an equaliser when Aaron Mooy hit the post in the 59th minute but Palace held on to secure all three points. NEWCASTLE United have now endured their worst home start to a top flight season in 30 years after losing three successive home matches. The Magpies’ paltry tally of just one point from 15 is also equal with their worst ever start in a Premier League campaign. Ciaran Clark’s late goal proved to be no more than a consolation against the Gunners on a day in wh castle failed to make the most of their positive first half spells of possession.
Toon players trudged off the field with the club still in the bottom three but the gloomy scenes at St James’ Park hadn’t looked on the cards at half-time after a pretty upbeat performance.
There were also fresh protests against owner Mike Ashley before the game outside the club shop and in the stands on a disappointing afternoon for Rafa Benitez.
In truth, Ashley’s lack of summer investment is now shining through but United did not make life easy for themselves on the pitch.
Sadly, Newcastle lack that little bit of extra quality and so have now slipped to narrow 2-1 losses to Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and Man City in the first five games of the season.
The Magpies made a positive start to the game as they tested Arsenal with a series of balls into the final third with Matt Ritchie the chief tormentor in the opening exchanges.
On 10 minutes a Ritchie corner was headed across the sixyard box by Jamaal Lascelles just unable to pick out Ayoze Perez as Shkodran Mustafi scrambled clear.
The visitors barely threatened in the first 15 minutes and even when Mezut Ozil released Hector Bellerin down the right, Paul Dummett got across to block with a textbook challenge.
With 21 minutes on the clock Shkodran Mustafi’s slip-up