Luis Díaz scored two fine goals inside two minutes as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-0 to move to the top of the English Premier League on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s side leads Manchester City on goal difference only and the defending champion needs a draw at home to Arsenal in Sunday’s big game to reclaim first place.
On a rare quiet day for teammate Mohamed Salah in front of goal, Díaz scored off both feet to display his own finishing skills at Anfield.
The Colombia forward chased down a long pass from defender Ibrahima Konaté, controlled the ball exquisitely on his waist as he turned, and then glided past goalkeeper Kepa before sliding the ball into the bottom left corner in the 28th minute.
That was with his right foot, and his second goal came off his left in the 30th.
Liverpool broke from midfield and Trent Alexander-Arnold galloped forward before slipping the ball to Díaz inside the left of the penalty area and he clipped it neatly past Kepa.
Darwin Núñez scored a fine third in the 37th. Collecting the ball wide right he looked to cross it, before changing his mind and curling a fine shot in off the left post.
Victory would have moved Newcastle to the top of the league but it lost at Fulham 3-1 to drop to sixth spot.
Fulham led early through Raúl Jiménez’s shot into the bottom right corner and a howler by goalie Nick Pope gifted Emile Smith Rowe Fulham’s second in the 22nd.
Harvey Barnes pulled one back after halftime but Reiss Nelson sealed victory in stoppage time.
In-form England striker Ollie Watkins came to the rescue as Aston Villa bounced back to beat rock-bottom Wolverhampton 3-1 in a fiery derby match to move into third spot.
An awful pass from Diego Carlos gifted Matheus Cunha the opening goal.
Villa struggled to create anything against a winless team before Watkins levelled in the 73rd with a deflected finish for his fourth goal in three matches.
Ezri Konsa fired in a cross by Youri Tielemans in the 88th and Jhon Duran lived up to his super-sub reputation by netting in stoppage time. It was the fourth time this season the Colombia forward has come off the bench to score.
There was nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time at Villa Park due to a lengthy delay while Colombia defender Yerson Mosquera was treated for an injury before being taken off on a stretcher.
Villa is level on points with City but trails on goal difference, with both two points ahead of Chelsea.
Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson marked his 50th club appearance with two early goals to inspire his team to a 3-0 win at West Ham.
Jackson added an assist for Cole Palmer against a poor West Ham side which was booed at the end of the match by home fans.
New West Ham coach Julen Lopetegui is under pressure after his third loss.Chelsea’s three league wins have all come away from home. (JapanToday)