 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Two goals from Eden Hazard inspired Chelsea to a ruthless 5-0 rout of Everton on Saturday that sent Antonio Conte's resurgent Blues to the top of the Premier League table.
The Belgian scored on 19 and 56 minutes, the second after a delightful back-heel from Pedro, as Chelsea blew away the visitors with one of the season's standout performances that confirmed Chelsea as genuine title contenders.
Pedro was equally impressive, setting up Marcos Alonso for Chelsea's second with a ball across the area on 20 minutes, and rounding off the romp with their fifth after Hazard's shot was blocked.
Diego Costa also got on the scoresheet just before halftime with a fierce shot past Everton keeper Maarten Stekelenburg. The goal was the Spanish international's 12th of the season.
Manchester City held by Middlesbrough
A stoppage-time goal from Martin de Roon earned Middlesbrough an unlikely 1-1 draw at Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday.
With title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal playing on Sunday, City had hoped to take full advantage, but failed to make their early dominance pay and were stunned when De Roon headed home powerfully from a George Friend cross.
City, who beat Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, looked on course for a comfortable win when Sergio Aguero tapped in a cross from Kevin De Bruyne in the 43rd minute, his 150th goal for the club.
Alvaro Negredo almost equalised straight after the break but his chip from the halfway line was well saved by Claudio Bravo and Aguero missed a great chance to double City's lead before De Roon gave the visitors the last word.
Burnley sink Palace with last-minute winner
Crystal Palace suffered a fourth successive defeat when they lost 3-2 to a last-minute goal at Burnley after fighting back from two goals down on Saturday.
The home side scored twice in the opening quarter of an hour through Welsh international Sam Vokes and Iceland's Johann Berg Gudmundsson, though goalkeeper Steve Mandanda was at fault for the second.
Substitute Connor Wickham pulled a goal back for the London side with his first touch and Christian Benteke converted a penalty for handball.
Burnley, however, secured a comfortable mid-table spot with a dramatic winner in stoppage time by Ashley Barnes.
Sunderland record season’s first league win
David Moyes watched from the stands as 10-man Sunderland came from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 for their first Premier League win of the season on Saturday.
Sunderland's manager was serving a one-match touchline ban and must have feared the worst after 10 minutes when Dan Gosling put Bournemouth ahead off his midrift after Sunderland failed to deal with Adam Smith's cross.
Only a series of saves from keeper Jordan Pickford saved Sunderland further embarrassment but they refused to buckle and equalised before the break when Victor Anichebe rocketed a shot past keeper Artur Boruc for his first goal for more than a year.
Even the dismissal of Steven Pienaar, who received his second yellow card for a lunge on Junior Stanislas, did not stop the visitors, whose stunning comeback was completed with a 73rd-minute Jermain Defoe penalty after Anichebe was brought down.
