EPL PIX: Liverpool sweep Spurs aside as Chelsea go top

Liverpool continued their perfect start to the season to stay top of the Premier League after a goal in each half gave them a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Saturday.

Georginio Wijnaldum picked the perfect time to score his first away goal in the Premier League when he headed Liverpool into a 39th-minute lead, before Roberto Firmino steered home a second early in the second half to ensure Liverpool made it five wins from five.

In the time since Liverpool’s 4-1 defeat at Tottenham in October last year, they have had the best defensive record in the Premier League, having kept more clean sheets than any other team, but they were denied another in stoppage time by Erik Lamela.

Lamela’s goal from a tight angle was deemed a mere consolation, though, as Spurs slipped to consecutive league defeats for the first time since the final two games of the 2015-16 season, meaning they remain outside the top four.

Hazard hat-trick against Cardiff sends Chelsea top

A hat-trick from Belgian magician Eden Hazard ensured Chelsea kept their 100 percent record this season with a 4-1 win over promoted Cardiff City that sent the Londoners to the top of the Premier League.

Chelsea, who have won their first five games of the season, were stunned when an unmarked Sol Bamba flicked home to put Cardiff ahead in the 16th minute, but Hazard replied twice before halftime as the home side upped the tempo.

He hit the bottom corner after dancing round two defenders to shoot low in the 37th minute, then latched on to another Olivier Giroud layoff with the Frenchman at full stretch in the 44th.

The Belgian scored a cool penalty in the 81st minute after Bamba brought down Willian in the area. Willian rounded off a satisfying afternoon for the London side, who moved top on goal difference, with a dipping shot from outside the area.

City keep in touch with leaders with win over Fulham

Champions Manchester City looked close to their sparkling best as they comfortably beat promoted Fulham 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on to stay within two points of early leaders Liverpool and Chelsea.

German Leroy Sane, recalled after being left out of the squad against Newcastle, scored inside two minutes with a close-range finish after Fernandinho capitalised on some sloppy passing from the visitors.

David Silva made it 2-0 when his powerful shot crashed in off the underside of the crossbar after excellent work from the outstanding Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva.

Raheem Sterling made it 3-0 with the most straightforward of tap-ins after Sergio Aguero had finished off a fine passing move with a burst down the right and a low cross.

Xhaka cracker helps Arsenal to 2-1 win over Newcastle

A cracking free kick by midfielder Granit Xhaka and a goal by Mesut Ozil gave Arsenal a 2-1 win over Newcastle, despite a stuttering first-half performance by the Londoners.

After a scoreless opening period without any decent chances, Newcastle’s Federico Fernandez brought down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the edge of the box and Xhaka stepped up to strike a sumptuous dipping free kick into the top right-hand corner.

Arsenal doubled their lead nine minutes later when Alexandre Lacazette’s shot was blocked, Ozil drove home the ball from the edge of the area and they looked like they were cruising to victory.

Newcastle substitute Ciaran Clark headed home a cross from Fernandez in stoppage time to throw his side a lifeline but they could not find another goal and fell to their fourth defeat in five Premier League games this season.