Chelsea got back to winning ways with a 2 1 home win over Aston Villa. They took the lead in the 24th minute when Tammy Abraham, back in the side after recovering from a hip injury, scored a firm header after a cross by Reece James. Villa equalised before half-time, against the run of play, Trezeguet bundling the ball home, before Chelsea regained the lead after the break, Abraham chesting a ball from Willian to Mason Mount, who volleyed it into the net. Willian hit the post, and Chelsea continued to dominate, whilst Villa lost for the third consecutive time this season when visiting London.
Liverpool beat Everton 5 2 in the Merseyside derby, maintaining their lead at the top of the table. The home side were ahead as early as the third minute when Sadio Mans fine weighted through ball found Divock Origi, whose first touch took it around the keeper, before sliding it home. Man then provided a second assist for Xherdan Shaqiri, before Everton pulled a goal back, defender Michael Keane reacting quickly when a ball was not cleared, and sweeping it into the net.
Liverpool were soon two goals to the good again when Dejan Lovrens sixty yard pass was superbly controlled by Origi, who then lifted his shot into the net. And they scored their fourth before half-time, breaking from their own penalty area through Trent Alexander-Arnold who played in Man to curl his shot past Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal. There was still time for Richarlison to head another goal for Everton before the interval.
The second half lacked the intensity of the first, but Man missed two clear-cut chances to add to his tally, whilst substitute Moise Kean was equally guilty at the other end. But the home team did score a fifth after good work from Roberto Firmino found Georgino Wijnaldum to fire into the bottom corner. The result leaves Everton in the relegation places and may well sound the death knell for Marco Silva as manager.
Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2 1 at Old Trafford, as Jose Mourinho lost for the first time as boss of Spurs against the club he used to manage. United took the lead in the sixth minute through a low drive from Marcus Rashford, but Paolo Gazzaniga in the Tottenham goal knows he should have done more to keep the shot out. United were good value for their lead, but Spurs then equalised with a fine goal from Dele Ali, flicking the ball over a defender and side footing past David de Gea. However, four minutes after the break, United were awarded a penalty after VAR decided that Moussa Sissoko had fouled Rashford in the box. The England striker kept his composure and sent Gazzaniga the wrong way.
Rashford squandered the chance of a hat-trick in the last minute, but Spurs rarely threatened an equaliser in the end.
