Blues, Citizens, Gunners on top

MAHREZ: BLAZES PENALTY OVER THE BAR LATE IN GAME

London

Chelsea joined Manchester City and Liverpool at the Premier League summit yesterday as Riyad Mahrez blazed a late penalty over the bar when presented with a golden chance to end his team’s Anfield hoodoo.

Arsenal, who lost their first two games of the season, are right back in the title hunt after a 5-1 stroll against Fulham while Chelsea saw off Southampton 3-0 to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Liverpool came into the match unbeaten in 17 home games against Manchester City in all competitions but the atmosphere was flat at Anfield and Jurgen Klopp’s team have now gone four games without a win.

Despite all the rich attacking talent on display, Liverpool and City cancelled each other out in a cagey encounter, mustering just four shots on target between them. But as the match meandered towards a conclusion, Leroy Sane was brought down in the box by Virgil van Dijk.

Algerian forward Mahrez placed the ball on the penalty spot but watched in despair as his shot sailed over the bar.

The draw means City, Liverpool and Chelsea are all locked together on 20 points, with the defending champions top by virtue of their superior goal difference.

Arsenal are now in the top four, level on 18 points with London rivals Tottenham.

Earlier, Ross Barkley celebrated last week’s recall to Gareth Southgate’s England squad by creating Chelsea’s opener for Eden Hazard and scoring the second himself. Alvaro Morata netted the third.

The Belgium forward played down title talk at this early stage in the season. “It’s too early to be thinking about the title, we know it is tough to win,” he said. “But it is good to be up there.”

And Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri insisted the 30-point gap between Chelsea and champions City last season is too much to make up in one campaign.

In the first match of the day, Unai Emery’s Arsenal turned on the style to climb into the top four.

The club, who parted ways with long-standing manager Arsene Wenger last season, were written off as title challengers after defeats against City and Chelsea but have now won six Premier League games in succession.

Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both scored twice, with Aaron Ramsey grabbing the other.

But Emery, perhaps mindful that tougher challenges lie ahead, was wary about Arsenal being labelled title contenders. –