Chelsea and Watford join Liverpool at top of Premier League

Chelsea and surprise package Watford have joined Liverpool on nine points from three games at the top of the Premier League.

Chelsea’s, No 10, celebrates after scoring against Newcastle at St James’ Park. Picture: Getty Images

Chelsea and Watford have joined Liverpool on nine points from three games at the top of the English Premier League after narrow wins on Sunday night (AEST).

Chelsea are second on goal difference behind Liverpool after winning 2-1 away to Newcastle United.

The Blues had more than 80 per cent possession but could not break through until the match took off in the last 20 minutes.

Eden Hazard, making his first start of the season, converted a controversial penalty after Fabian Schar was ruled to have fouled Marcos Alonso.

Chelsea were equally aggrieved by the equalising goal, claiming that Olivier Giroud was elbowed before DeAndre Yedlin crossed for Joselu to head in. But with three minutes left Yedlin touched Alonso’s shot into his own net.

“We are Chelsea and we never give up,” said the Hazard.

Manager Maurizio Sarri said he was stunned by Newcastle manager Rafel Benitez’s defensive approach as the home side put nine men behind the ball and played with one striker.

“We knew that it would be a difficult game for us, and every team that comes here,” Sarri said.

“But it has been more difficult because in Italy I never saw Rafa play with five defenders at the back,” said Sarri, who arrived in the summer from Napoli, where he had succeeded Benitez.

“It meant we needed to move the ball very fast.”

Watford’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace means they have begun a season in the top tier with three successive wins for the first time, although captain Troy Deeney felt his team had luck on their side.

“We were poor by our standards but the grit and determination and will to win has been clear to everyone,” Deeney said.

“We got lucky but it gives us confidence we can be poor and still get results.”

Palace manager Roy Hodgson was among those who felt Watford’s Etienne Capoue could have been sent off in the fourth minute for a challenge on Wilfried Zaha, before setting up the opening goal for Roberto Pereyra.

“We’re not happy about the foul. I’d have to say we were unlucky he was not sent off,” Hodgson said.

Jose Holebas added a freak second from an intended cross before Zaha halved the gap and defender Joel Ward missed a glorious chance to equalise in the last seconds of added time at Vicarage Road.

At the other end of the table, promoted Fulham earned their first points of the campaign with a 4-2 win over Burnley, whose ­Europa League exploits may be taking a toll.

There were five goals in the first half, two of them by Fulham’s powerful Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Defeat sent Burnley, who finished seventh last season, into the bottom three above Huddersfield Town and West Ham United.

Reuters