Chelsea goes top, despite scare
LONDON/MANCHESTER: Chelsea survived a late onslaught by English Premier League new boy Brentford to win a pulsating West London derby 10 yesterday, keeping it top of the table ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City, which cruised to comfortable victories.
Troubled Manchester United lost 42 to Leicester City, meaning it has picked up just one point from its last three premier league games and it slipped to fifth place.
Chelsea has 19 points, one ahead of Liverpool and two ahead of City, after Ben Chilwell struck in the first half before goalkeeper Edouard Mendy pulled off a string of late saves to deny Brentford an equaliser.
Bryan Mbeumo hit the post twice for the host and Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah had to clear off the line from Christian Norgaard, who later thought he had scored the goal Brentford deserved only to see Mendy pull off another stunning save.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s critics will be circling again after his side fell apart in the final stages at the King Power Stadium.
Mason Greenwood had fired United into a 19thminute lead with a fine 20m drive that flew in off the inside of the post.
But United skipper Harry Maguire was at fault for Leicester’s equaliser, being dispossessed by Kelechi Iheanacho, who set up Youri Tielemans to fire home.
Caglar Soyuncu put the Foxes ahead in the 78th minute only for Marcus Rashford, back from injury and in the side for the first time this season, made it 22 in the 82nd minute.
But Leicester was to have the final say with goals from Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka earning Brendan Rodgers’ side its third win of the campaign. While United slips outside of the top four, Liverpool’s impressive start to the season continued with Roberto Firmino scoring a hattrick in a 50 demolition of Watford at Vicarage Road, inspired by Mohamed Salah.
Salah played a sublime pass to Sadio Mane with the outside of his left boot for the Senegalese striker to claim his 100th premier league goal in the ninth minute.
Salah later produced a moment of magic — trapped in tight space surrounded by Watford defenders, showed great skill to wriggle his way clear and then curl past Foster.
Firmino completed his hattrick in stoppage time, to complete a miserable first game in charge of Watford for Italian manager Claudio Ranieri.
Manchester City won 20 against winless Burnley, Wolverhampton Wanderers came from two down to win 32 at Aston Villa, while Leeds United’s poor start continued with a 10 loss at Southampton.