TheCable

The top clubs in the English Premier League won their respective league games on Saturday.

Liverpool laboured to a one goal win at Sheffield United, while Chelsea recorded their first league victory of the season at home.

Also, 10-man Tottenham survived a 41st minute red card to overcome Southampton 2-1 at their London stadium while Manchester City needed a well-taken Riyad Mahrez free kick to pile more misery on a spirited Everton with a 3-1 win at Goodison Park.

In the first game of the weekend, Liverpool, playing well below their standard, needed a fortuitous 70th-minute goal from Giogino Wijnaldum to overcome a stubborn Sheffield United. The Dutch midfielder’s unspectacular shot squirmed beyond Dean Henderson’s legs for the only goal of the game.

The win maintained their 100 percent start to the season after seven games. It was also their 16th straight EPL victory.

At the Stamford Bridge, Frank Lampard’s Chelsea followed up their midweek 7-1 demolition job in the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion. A second half penalty from Jorginho and a deflected Willian shot ensured the Chelsea faithful went home happy.

Chelsea’s London rivals, Tottenham, were made to work harder for their first win in four league games. Record signing, Tanguy Ndombele gave Spurs a 24th minute lead but seven minutes later, Ivory Coast defender, Sergi Aurier, was shown a red card for two bookings in four minutes.

Southampton capitalised through Danny Ings in the 39th minute, aided by a Hugo Lloris error. The France goalkeeper kicked the air under pressure from striker, Ings, who had the easiest task of rolling the ball into an empty net.

Mauricio Pochettino’s anger was however defused by captain Harry Kane who restored Tottenham’s lead five minutes later, finishing off a Heung-min Son-led counter-attack with a well taken shot, and his teammates held on for a 2-1 win.

In the late game of the day, Manchester City needed patience against Alex Iwobi’s Everton, earning a 3-1 win to stay five points behind Liverpool in second place. The Super Eagles attacking midfielder was a 7th minute substitute for injured Theo Walcott.

Gabriel Jesus gave the defending EPL champions a 24th minute lead with a diving header, but Everton responded with Dominic Calvert-Levein’s header on 33 minutes to level the encounter going into the halftime break.

A dominant City side would take the lead in the 71st minute via Algeria’s Mahrez, the winger’s curling free kick finding the bottom corner. Raheem Sterling cemented the win five minutes from time as goal line technology adjudged his shot had crossed the line.

Results
Sheffield United 0-1 Liverpool
Chelsea 2-0 Brighton
Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham
Aston Villa 2-2 Burnley
Crystal Palace 1-0 Norwich City
Tottenham 2-1 Southampton
Wolves 2-0 Watford
Everton 1-3 Man City

Fixtures
Leicester vs Newcastle (Sunday)
Man United vs Arsenal (Monday)