Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool continued their winning ways on Matchday 14 to remain at the top of the Premier League table. Only two points separate the top three teams after the midweek matches.
Ziyech keeps Chelsea on top with late strike
After a gritty 2-1 victory over Watford on Wednesday night, Chelsea remained in the first place. Substitute Hakim Ziyech was the hero for the Blues, scoring the match-winner in the 72nd minute. It was a significant result for the Blues, who recorded their fifth consecutive away victory in the Premier League.
Mason Mount opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 29th minute, with his strike going against the run of play. Watford managed to draw even just before the halftime break, with Emmanuel Dennis cancelling Mount's opening goal in the 43rd minute after an error by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
A draw in this contest would have sent the Blues crashing into third place. Ziyech made sure that would not happen, scoring the winner that Mount set up. It was a disappointing defeat for the Hornets, who lost for the sixth time in eight league games.
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Manchester City hands Steven Gerrard first loss as Villa manager
Manchester City kept pace with Chelsea after a 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park. Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva scored the goals for City, who remained one point behind Chelsea in the league table.
Dias gave City the lead in the 27th minute, attempting to find the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Silva then scored one of the tournament's best goals, hitting a superb side-foot volley off Gabriel Jesus' dropping cross. Silva's strike was right on the money, with the ball finding the roof of the net.
Aston Villa pulled a goal back in the 47th minute following a neat strike by Ollie Watkins. They failed to find the equalizer, though, as Steven Gerrard lost for the first time as Villa manager.
Reds prevail again in Merseyside derby
On Wednesday, Liverpool recorded the most significant win as the Reds trounced crosstown rivals Everton, 4-1, at Goodison Park. Mohamed Salah ran roughshod over the Everton defense, scoring a brace to hand former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez a humiliating loss in the Merseyside derby. He has been on fire to start the season, scoring 13 Premier League goals thus far.
Jordan Henderson gave Liverpool a dream start, scoring with a fine finish in the ninth minute. Salah doubled that advantage 10 minutes later to send Liverpool fans in attendance into a frenzy. Demarai Gray gave Everton a lifeline just before the break, pulling a goal back in the 38th minute.
That was the closest Everton got in this match as Liverpool piled on the pressure in the second half. Salah restored the Reds' two-goal lead in the 64th minute after an error by Seamus Coleman. The in-form Diogo Jota then completed the rout with a superb strike in the 79th minute.
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