City too strong for Palace as United labour

Manchester City ran riot in the second half at the Etihad to thrash Crystal Palace 5-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, while Manchester United made hard work of their 1-0 win at Southampton. City were second-best for much of the first half but Leroy Sane's goal just before halftime gave them the momentum to go on to rout Palace who became the first side in English Football League history to lose their opening six games of the season without scoring. United were far less convincing in their success at Southampton but Romelu Lukaku's first-half goal was enough to ensure they stay level on points with leaders City. Referee Craig Pawson's decision to send manager Jose Mourinho to the stands late on put a dampener on the result at St Mary's.

Another win ? Another @RomeluLukaku9 goal ⚽️ Another clean sheet ? pic.twitter.com/xvZPtT7x9t

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 23, 2017

The Portuguese declined to be drawn on the incident but was full of praise for his side's defensive efforts. "We fought hard," Mourinho said. "We did for 20, 25 minutes what many teams do for 90 minutes which is to play with five at the back. So many teams are always defensive. "That being said, we had two incredible chances to kill the game. Our attacking players were not sharp."

"Three fantastic points." Jose Mourinho gives his post-match thoughts to #MUTV... pic.twitter.com/lGAYeMfLUJ

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 23, 2017

One striker very much on form was Alvaro Morata, whose hat-trick helped Chelsea to keep pace with the Manchester clubs. Antonio Conte's men remain three points behind in third after their 4-0 win at Stoke.

First Chelsea hat-trick. ✅ Take a bow, @AlvaroMorata! ? #STKCHE pic.twitter.com/3UfFEm1Hmd

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 23, 2017

Liverpool won 3-2 at Leicester City in typically heart-in-the-mouth style when Simon Mignolet comically conceded and then saved a late penalty, which Jamie Vardy fired too close to the Belgian's body. The spot-kick save was Mignolet's fifth from his past eight attempts.

Simon Mignolet has saved 7 of the 15 #PL penalties he's faced since joining Liverpool in 2013 - more than any other keeper... pic.twitter.com/LtgvzzkuD9

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 23, 2017

Tottenham climbed into the top four after a thrilling 3-2 win at London Stadium over West Ham. Two goals from Harry Kane and one from Christian Eriksen helped Spurs to ease into a 3-0 lead but goals from Javier Hernandez and Cheikhou Kouyate ensured that the visitors, who had Serge Aurier sent off with 20 minutes to go, were hanging on at the death.

Harry Kane now has the best minutes-per-goal record in #PL London derbies of any player to score 10+ goals (112.6 mins - 21 in 29 matches) pic.twitter.com/C3CppXZsoK

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 23, 2017

In Manchester, Sane's brilliant first-half goal for City seemed somewhat undeserved but Palace struggled to cope with their slick football in the second half.

? @leroysane19 pic.twitter.com/q4NTk0WS8P

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 23, 2017

Raheem Sterling helped himself to a quick-fire brace after the break, before Sergio Aguero got a goal 11 minutes from time. Fabian Delph's late stunner ensured City became the first side to score five or more goals in three consecutive top-flight games in the same season since Blackburn in 1958-59.

Last three @premierleague games... 5-0 6-0 5-0 Last time that happened in the top flight? 1958/59 pic.twitter.com/JY60ha2Dle

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 23, 2017

While manager Pep Guardiola was pleased with City's second-half showing, he admitted being concerned about their sluggish start. "We started well, in the first five or 10 minutes, but after that we were not good," Guardiola said. "We did not move the ball well but in the second half we were at our level; we regained our tempo.

Pep delighted with City's tempo and patience after Palace mauling. #cityvcpfc #mancity https://t.co/4cbYYHuNm1

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 23, 2017

"Eight players did not play in midweek and when you change for different competitions you are not as sharp as when you play every three days." Wayne Rooney went off with a bloody eye injury after a clash with a defender as Everton hosted Bournemouth and his replacement, Oumar Niasse, decided the match, netting a double to earn a 2-1 win after Josh King had given the visitors the lead.

HT Everton 0-0 Bournemouth Wayne Rooney's been in the wars, but not on the scoresheet so far. https://t.co/6XWcSNyj2Z #EVEBOU pic.twitter.com/gZBrQ8uxHU

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 23, 2017

In south Wales, Richarlison scored a last-gasp winner to earn Watford a 2-1 victory over Swansea - the Hornets' third away success in a row.

Manchester lead the way...#PL pic.twitter.com/fPw8ADoD90

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 23, 2017

One day. 26 goals. Stunning drama. Just another day in the #PL... pic.twitter.com/AaitAGDym8

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 23, 2017

RESULTSBurnley 0 Huddersfield 0Everton 2 (Niasse 77, 82) Bournemouth 1 (King 49)Leicester 2 (Okazaki 45+3, Vardy 69) Liverpool 3 (Salah 16, Coutinho 23, Henderson 68)Manchester City 5 (Sane 44, Sterling 51, 59, Augero 79, Delph 89) Crystal Palace 0Southampton 0 Manchester United 1 (Lukaku 20)Stoke 0 Chelsea 4 (Morata 2, 77, 82, Pedro 30)Swansea 1 (Abraham 56) Watford 2 (Gray 13, Richarlison 90)West Ham 2 (Hernandez 65, Kouyate 87) Tottenham 3 (Kane 34, 38, Eriksen 60)