LONDON — Despite having been Chelsea’s second choice in the transfer window, Alvaro Morata is quickly proving his doubters wrong in the English Premier League.
The former Real Madrid forward showcased his skills with a hat trick as Chelsea defeated Stoke 4-0 on Saturday, drawing him level with Romelu Lukaku and Sergio Aguero with six league goals.
Aguero and Lukaku were on the scoresheet, too, as Manchester City and Manchester United won and maintained their unbeaten records in different ways.
City maintained its thrilling start to the season to defeat Crystal Palace 5-0, and United ground down Southampton 1-0 thanks to Lukaku’s first-half strike.
Tottenham and Watford also maintained perfect away records. Spurs withstood a late West Ham comeback to win at the London Stadium 3-2, Watford won at Swansea 2-1, Everton came from behind to defeat Bournemouth 2-1, and Burnley and Huddersfield played out a goalless draw.
MORATA, MORATA, MORATA
Morata’s first three goals for the Blues came via his head, but a cool side-footed finish after just two minutes gave Chelsea the lead at Britannia Stadium.
His second was even better as he picked up the ball on the left, drove past two Stoke defenders and curled his shot past Jack Butland.
His third was simple, but the Spain striker’s movement was on display as he slipped his marker to find space to tap in Cesar Azpilicueta’s knockdown.
Pedro scored Chelsea’s other goal as Antonio Conte’s side maintained its perfect away record in the league, keeping it within three points of United and City at the top of the table.
CITY ROMP
Leroy Sane opened the scoring, Raheem Sterling added a double., Aguero scored, and substitute Fabian Delph rounded off the scoring for City, to leave Roy Hodgson’s Palace pointless and goalless after six games.
SPURS RALLY
Tottenham withstood a late West Ham comeback.
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A Harry Kane brace and Christian Eriksen goal put Spurs in control.
Then Javier Hernandez and Cheikhou Kouayte scored headers either side of the red card for Serge Aurier but Tottenham held on.
SUB STARS
Oumar Niasse came off the bench to score twice as Everton came from behind to defeat Bournemouth and end a run of three successive defeats.