Protect me before my leg is broken, pleads Zaha

Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha says he feels that he will have “to get my leg broken” before an opponent is cautioned for fouling him.

The Ivorian scored a brilliant solo goal to give his side a 1-0 victory at Huddersfield, but the 25-year-old was visibly angry after being fouled by Huddersfield’s Mathias Jorgensen. The Dane was booked but Zaha claimed he is treated differently to other players and is not being protected by referees.

“I feel like I’d have to get my leg broken for anyone to get a card. That’s why I lose my head,” Zaha told the BBC. “Why am I getting different treatment from other players? It makes you not want to go on a run because someone will come through the back of you, and it doesn’t allow you to express yourself.

“At the same time, I have to let my feet do the talking, which I did today.”

The win lifted Palace to 11th, but at the top of the table Liverpool and Chelsea are setting the pace as they maintained their perfect records against Tottenham and Cardiff - the first time in 110 years two sides have won their opening five games. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp - who was boosted by news an eye injury suffered by Roberto Firmino is not serious - refused to get carried away after his side’s 2-1 win.

“It’s still early, five games,” he said. “I don’t wait for problems, but I am old enough to know they will come. Nobody plays a perfect season, not even City last year played a perfect season.”

Eden Hazard scored a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 4-1 win at Stamford Bridge and was hailed by his manager.

“I thought that Hazard was one of the best players in Europe,” said Maurizio Sarri. “But now I change my mind – maybe he is the best now.”

Manchester City beat Fulham 3-0 while Manchester United are up to eighth after beating Watford 2-1.