Premier League: Liverpool, Chelsea maintain winning starts

League leaders Liverpool fended off a tough challenge from Leicester City thanks to goals from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino at the King Power Stadium on Saturday. In London, it was Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea, who too battled their way to a fourth consecutive win with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth.

Liverpool’s early two-goal lead seemed to be under threat after a blunder by newly recruited keeper Alisson Becker but eventually, the Reds held on to end up winning the match 2-1. An assist by Andy Robertson helped Mane pump in his fourth goal of the season and the lead was doubled by Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino’s first of the season.

But keeper Alisson’s howler while trying to dribble past Nigerian Kelechi Ileanacho didn’t help the visitors’ cause as soon it was slotted into the net by Rachid Ghezzal. This gave hope to the home side for making a comeback but that wasn’t to be as Jurgen Klopp’s side walked away with all three points to maintain their position at the top of the league table.

Said, Klopp, as quoted by AFP, “It’s only positive that he (Alisson) is that good a footballer. But we all have to learn to use it in the right way still.”

“That was a mistake – no goalkeeper in the world should dribble in that situation, “ he added further.

Sarri’s Chelsea, on the other hand, handed Bournemouth their first loss of the season as Olivier Giroud, who won the World Cup with France two months ago helped break the deadlock in the 72^nd minute as he assisted Pedro in the 72^nd minute who found the back of the net. Belgian forward Eden Hazard then showed his class once again with his second goal of the season which sealed a 2-0 win. But they were made to work hard for it.

“They were very organised and they defended very well but usually in this match you have to be patient because you can win in the last 20 minutes,” said Sarri, as quoted by the same source.

Defending champions Manchester City also secured a 2-1 win at home against Newcastle United. Raheen Sterling had given Pep Guardiola’s side an early lead in the eighth minute but it was cancelled out by  DeAndre Yedlin’s 30th-minute strike. But the home side once again went ahead as Argentine forward Sergio Aguero assisted Kyle Walker in the 52^nd minute, which eventually turned out to be the difference maker. City are placed third in the table behind Chelsea and Liverpool.

West Ham, meanwhile slumped to their fourth loss in as many matches after Adama Traore slotted one into the net in the stoppage time to help the Wolves clinch a win. Newly appointed gaffer Manuel Pellegrini was rightfully disappointed at his team’s sloppy start despite spending so much in the transfer window as he said, “I don’t think it is a bad start, it is a very bad start.”

“We can’t lose six points here at home like we have. Playing away against Liverpool and Arsenal and you don’t play so well is understandable. Here at home to lose we must be very worried,” he added.

Marco Silva’s Everton played out a 1-1 draw at home against Huddersfield while an inspired show from Brighton’s Glenn Murray helped them overcome a 0-2 deficit against Fulham. The match ended in a draw at 2-2.

Southampton tasted their first win this season as they downed Crystal Palace. Danny Ings fired one in for the Saints in the 47^th minute before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s stoppage-time strike ensured that they secured all three points.