London (AFP)
Everton continued their clear Premier League on Saturday by crushing Brighton (4-2) on Matchday 4, while Chelsea returned to success by beating Crystal Palace (4-0).
- We don't stop Everton anymore -
The other Liverpool club confirmed their start to the season with a fourth success in four matches, a new goal from their goleador Dominic Calvert-Lewin and a brace from James Rodriguez.
With 12 points, the Toffees provisionally take the lead in the championship, and can calmly wait for the Mersey derby on the next day, against defending champion Liverpool.
Producing attractive football despite unfavorable weather conditions, Carlo Ancelotti's men took the advantage at the end of the first quarter of an hour by Calvert-Lewin who celebrated his first call to the national team, for the upcoming international break, by a headed goal (1-0, 16th).
This is the sixth league goal for the striker, who scored a hat-trick in the League Cup in midweek and becomes the first Everton player to score in the first 4 days of the Premier League.
Despite a blunder from its international goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who allowed the Seagulls to equalize briefly by Neal Maupay (1-1, 41st), Everton quickly regained the lead on a header from Yerry Mina after a free kick from James Rodiguez (2-1, 45 + 1) for a 100% Colombian goal.
Rodriguez scored twice in the second half (3-1, 52nd and 4-1, 70th), which brings his record to 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 official meetings with his new club.
The reduction in the score by Yves Bissouma in added time, with a superb end of 20 meters (45 + 1), owes nothing to anyone, but it does not change much either.
- Chelsea hooks up the right wagon -
After a defeat against Liverpool and a miraculous draw (3-3 after being led 3-0) against West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea got off on the right foot with Crystal Palace (4-0).
With these 3 points, the Blues are temporarily back to 4th place with 7 units.
For Crystal Palace, who had taken 6 points during the first 2 days, it is a reminder that the club's ambition will remain as quiet as possible but not to tease the big guys.
The victory was long in taking shape, Frank Lampard insisting on his forced integration of the newcomers with 5 recruits in the starting XI.
The offensive production was affected, the automatisms between Kai Havertz and Timo Werner, arrived this summer and Tammy Abraham, holder in the axis, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, leaving something to be desired.
Faced with opponents who came without much offensive intentions, Thiago Silva and Edouard Mendy had a very calm start to the afternoon and the Londoners obtained their first game without conceding a goal of the season.
In the second half, Ben Chilwell, defector from Leicester, distinguished himself for his first start in the league by opening the scoring after a messed up ball (1-0, 50th) before offering a precise center the second goal to the header from Kurt Zouma (2-0, 66th).
Midfielder Jorginho then scored two penalties in four minutes (3-0, 78th and 4-0, 82nd).
The second resulted in a bickering between captain Cesar Azipilicueta and Tammy Abraham, who grabbed the ball with the firm intention of shooting it.
Much to the despair of the England international, who knows that places will be expensive in attack and that every opportunity to shine counts this season, but the Spaniard has given the ball back to the usual shooter who has twice taken the opposing goalkeeper against -foot on his left.
© 2020 AFP