Hazard lights up Chelsea’s title bid

THE foundations are being laid for one of the English Premier League’s most exhilarating and competitive title races.

For the first time since the league’s inception 26 years ago, two teams — Chelsea and Liverpool — have a 100 per cent winning record after five matches.

Eden Hazard’s hat-trick powered Chelsea to a 4-1 victory over Cardiff shortly after goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino helped Liverpool overcome Tottenham 2-1.

Dual perfection won’t last much longer because Chelsea hosts 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 3-0 defeat of Fulham to remain two points behind the front-runners.

Watford made an unexpectedly perfect start to the campaign but that is now over after being beaten 2-1 at home by Manchester United, which is six points off the pace.

For the first time since May 2017, Arsenal has 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 2-1 victory at Newcastle for Unai Emery’s side.

Bournemouth beat visiting Leicester City 4-2, with Scottish winger Ryan Fraser scoring twice and setting up another.

The wins lifts The Cherries to 10 points and fifth place, above Tottenham, Arsenal and United.

Wilfried Zaha was rushed back from a groin injury and scored a brilliant solo goal to give Crystal Palace a 1-0 win at Huddersfield and its first success since the opening day.

Belgium star Hazard’s best tally since joining Chelsea in 2012 is 18 in the 2016-17 campaign — this season, after five games, he already has six.