Football
ESPN staff 6y

Chelsea, Arsenal cruise to victory, Man United and Man City win too

Sergio Aguero scored a hat trick for Manchester City in a 3-1 victory over Newcastle to consolidate their 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

The striker headed home a Kevin De Bruyne cross in the 34th minute as City took a slim lead into half-time. Aguero then converted a penalty in the 63rd minute after Javier Manquillo brought down Raheem Sterling in the box.

Newcastle found a lifeline four minutes later, however, when Jacob Murphy got on the end of a Ciaran Clark through ball.

But Aguero made sure of the three points with seven minutes to play, redirecting a Leroy Sane pass after some fine play from the German to evade multiple Magpies defenders.

Arsenal put the impending departure of Alexis Sanchez behind them with a 4-1 drubbing of Crystal Palace at the Emirates.

The Gunners came out of the blocks fast and the visitors had no answer, with three goals coming inside the first 13 minutes. Nacho Monreal headed home after just six minutes, converting Granit Xhaka's pass, before the defender then turned provider to set up goals for Alex Iwobi and Laurent Koscielny.

And it was 4-0 after only 22 minutes as Alexandre Lacazette fired home from Mesut Ozil's assist.

Arsenal supporters had double reason to celebrate, with Borussia Dortmund confirming during the game that they had received an enquiry for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Palace netted a consolation 12 minutes from time through Luka Milivojevic.

Manchester United showed exactly why they want to sign Sanchez as they laboured to a 1-0 win away to Burnley.

United struggled to get going in the game, but took their lead with their first shot on target in the 54th minute. Romelu Lukaku created the goal, setting up Anthony Martial to unleash a right-footed shot into the top-left corner. 

Eden Hazard moved past the 100 career league goals milestone with two strikes as he orchestrated Chelsea's 4-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX stadium.

Only three minutes had elapsed when Victor Moses reached the byline and his cut-back found its way to Hazard, who sidestepped Lewis Dunk before firing home. And three minutes later Hazard and Michy Batshuayi combined in a blur of backheels before Willian provided the finish from just inside the area.

Hazard put the game to bed 13 minutes from time when he ran unchallenged into the Brighton area before sweeping the ball past Maty Ryan. And with full-time approaching substitute Charly Musonda's fine ball sent Moses clean through to slide in number four and seal an emphatic return to winning ways.

Chelsea move into third above Liverpool, who play away at Swansea on Monday.

Everton had to settle for a point at home to West Bromwich Albion as the teams played out a 1-1 draw.

Sam Allardyce's current struggles looked set to continue when the Baggies took the lead after just seven minutes. Grzegorz Krychowiak played in Jay Rodriguez and the striker made no mistake in slotting past Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal.

Everton suffered a blow just after the hour when James McCarthy suffered what looked like a broken leg after a clash with Salomon Rondon, the West Brom player was in tears as McCarthy was taken off.

Theo Walcott, making his debut after signing from Arsenal in the week, claimed an assist to earn Everton a point, nodding across the face of goal for Oumar Niasse to score 20 minutes from time.

Leicester City continued their return to form with a 2-0 win at home to Watford.

Molla Wague brought Jamie Vardy down inside the box, and the England international made no mistake to score from the spot six minutes before the break.

And Watford were then caught on the break in the final moments as Adrien Silva set up Riyad Mahrez to put the result beyond doubt.

Paul Lambert enjoyed a winning start to life as Stoke City boss as the Potters beat Huddersfield Town 2-0.

The breakthrough came eight minutes into the second half as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting set up Joe Allen to score. And the result was put beyond doubt on 69 minutes when Xherdan Shaqiri backheeled into the path of Mame Diouf, whose shot went in off the post.

The final game saw West Ham United and Bournemouth draw 1-1.

Bournemouth stunned the London Stadium in the 71st minute as Ryan Fraser scored, but the Cherries' lead was shortlived, with substitute Javier Hernandez levelling for the Hammers just two minutes later.

It was the Mexican striker's first goal in all competitions since Oct. 29, and comes amid reports linking him with a move away from West Ham.

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