Eden Hazard put on another masterclass – with a goal and an assist – to send Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League after a 2-0 win over Newcastle.
EmpicsEden Hazard celebrates after scoring Chelsea’s first
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The Belgian, who arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer for £32 million from Lille, has been in fine form so far this season and pulled the strings throughout the game to ensure his side kept their 100% record.
Spanish striker Fernando Torres also impressed and won a first-half penalty when he was tripped in the box by Vurnon Anita. With usual penalty-taker Frank Lampard left on the bench alongside John Terry, Hazard stepped up and slotted past Tim Krul.
Before half-time it was 2-0 and Hazard was at the centre of things again as his neat backheel set up Torres to poke the ball into the top of the net.
Newcastle hardly troubled the Chelsea defence and the closest they came was when Papiss Demba Cisse headed over from a Ryan Taylor cross and strike partner Demba Ba wasted a good chance when he shot straight at Petr Cech late on.
Manchester United notched their first points of the season thanks to a 3-2 triumph over Fulham at Old Trafford. Cottagers winger Damien Duff silenced the home crowd by scoring inside the first three minutes, only for new £24 million signing Van Persie to equalise with a brilliant inventive volley from Patrice Evra’s centre, highlighting why Sir Alex Ferguson was willing to fork out so much for his services.
And United went ahead from a Van Persie corner as Tom Cleverley’s shot was clumsily spilled by Mark Schwarzer into the path of Shinji Kagawa, who could not miss from a couple of yards. Rafael’s header from Ashley Young’s cross seemed to have put United out of sight, but a Nemanja Vidic own goal – provoked by a mix-up with goalkeeper David de Gea – with 25 minutes remaining filled Fulham with fresh hope.
United steadied themselves across the final ten minutes, dragging themselves over the line as Fulham’s fightback petered out. However, Wayne Rooney was stretchered off with a serious gash to his knee during injury time.
A last-gasp leveller from James Morrison denied Andre Villas-Boas a first league win as Tottenham Hotspur manager in the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion. Spurs dominated the first half without reward, and there were signs that they would be made to pay for their wastefulness in the second period, as West Brom – and Romelu Lukaku in particular – threatened.
However, Benoit Assou-Ekotto lifted a weight from Villas-Boas’ shoulders by netting; the defender picking up a half-cleared corner to give Spurs the goal they deserved. The Baggies had their moments in the closing stages as Spurs wobbled, and finally broke through late on thanks to Morrison.
Paul Lambert endured a nightmare home league debut as Aston Villa manager, as they fell to a resounding 3-1 defeat to Everton. Steven Pienaar got the ball rolling, hammering a first-time shot into the top corner from 25 yards, before two goals from crosses: the first when Marouane Fellaini converted Phil Jagielka’s centre, and the second when Nikica Jelavic pounced on Leighton Baines’ low delivery.
Ciaran Clark was sent off for bringing down Jelavic as Villa’s misery deepened – but the hosts did manage to get a consolation back with ten-men, Karim El Ahmadi rifling in from 30 yards.
Less than a week after giving Manchester City a huge scare, Southampton were brought down to earth by a 2-0 home defeat against Wigan. Striker Franco di Santo broke the deadlock, collecting Shaun Maloney’s through ball before smacking the ball into the roof of the net from ten yards. Summer arrival Arouna Kone decisively settled the game in the Latics’ favour.
Norwich and QPR, both on the end of heavy defeats last weekend, played out a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road. The QPR defence were ripped to shreds for Norwich’s opener, a fine passing move resulting in Anthony Pilkington crossing for Simeon Jackson to nod in. But the Hoops did not crumble, and soon after were level: Bobby Zamora converting a rebound after Djibril Cisse’s penalty was saved by John Ruddy.
In the day’s early kick-off, Swansea cruised to a 3-0 win over West Ham at the Liberty Stadium.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce was left to rue two early defensive mistakes as Jussi Jaaskelainen diverted Angel Rangel’s cross into his own net before Michu latched onto a woeful backpass from James Collins to put the Swans 2-0 up inside half-an-hour.
West Ham had chances to get back into the match and proved a threat on set-pieces – Michel Vorm pulling off a great save to deny Matt Jarvis’ half-volley before Carlton Cole’s header was cleared off the line.
But Swansea, who have now scored eight goals in their opening two matches, put the scoreline beyond the visitors, Danny Graham sweeping home Wayne Routledge’s cross to wrap up a convincing victory for Michael Laudrup’s men.
Meanwhile, Sunderland’s first home game of the season against Reading was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.