There was hype. There was talk of a goal fest. It was labelled ‘Challengers versus Champions – and it ended goalless.
Manchester City remain on top of the table after keeping Liverpool at bay, though will rue missing a late penalty which would have seen them take all three points.
Riyad Mahrez was culprit and seemed an odd choice having missed three of his last attempts from the spot.
The Algerian fired the ball over the bar with eighty-six minutes on the clock and the game, which boasted two of Europe’s most potent attacking trios, finished 0-0.
Chelsea took advantage of the title favourites dropping points by easing to victory at Southampton and are now level with the Citizens and the Reds ahead of the international break.
Hot streak
Eden Hazard opened the scoring for the Blues on the half-hour mark, with Ross Barkley and Alvaro Morata netting in the second half to put the result beyond doubt.
Arsenal continued their winning run in fine fashion, thumping Fulham by five goals to one at Craven Cottage with Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both scoring a brace either side of an Aaron Ramsey strike.
Andre Schurrle scored for the hosts though they are, like Southampton now just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Tottenham Hotspur, like Arsenal are just two points off the top after Eric Dier scored the only goal of the game against Cardiff City, who now prop up the rest of the division after Huddersfield earned a point from their trip to Burnley.
Cherries on top
Bournemouth were the big winners on Saturday, thumping Watford by four goals to nil at Vicarage Road and the result saw them leapfrog the Hornets into sixth place.
David Brooks opened the scoring on fourteen minutes before Eddie Howe’s side were handed an extra advantage as Christian Kabasele was dismissed for two bookable advantages.
The Cherries were three goals to the good at half-time thanks to a brace from Josh King while Callum Wilson scored shortly after the restart.
Wolverhampton Wanderers won yet again to keep alive their top six aspirations – Matt Doherty’s goal enough to see them win at Crystal Palace while Everton beat Leicester City thanks to a wondergoal from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Brighton and Hove Albion edged past West Ham United in Friday evening’s game while Saturday’s late kick-off proved to be a thriller with Manchester United coming from two goals down to beat Newcastle United in dramatic fashion.
Comeback
Almost all the prematch talk was on Jose Mourinho’s position in charge of the Red Devils, which looked even more ominous ten minutes in with Rafa Benitez’s men two goals ahead.
That’s how the scoreline remained until the seventieth minute when Juan Mata started the hosts’ comeback, while Anthony Martial levelled six minutes later.
Then, in stoppage time substitute Alexis Sanchez bagged the winner with his first goal since April to give his side a first win in five.
However, despite the win Mourinho remains the odds on favourite to be the next manager in the EPL to leave their post.
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