Chelsea on fire as 'Big Four' all win
LONDON: Chelsea romped to a 5-0 win at Middlesbrough, Manchester United thumped West Bromwich Albion 4-0 and Liverpool and Arsenal produced stirring fightbacks to claim home wins over Wigan Athletic and Everton on Saturday.
The results mean the Premier League now looks more familiar with the "Big Four" filling the top four slots.
Chelsea's lunchtime demolition job gave the leaders 20 points from eight games but Liverpool joined them on the same total after scoring twice in the last 10 minutes against 10-man Wigan to snatch a 3-2 victory.
Arsenal moved up to third on 16 points after netting three second-half goals to record a 3-1 victory against Everton.
United are up to fourth on 14, along with Aston Villa, held goalless at home by Portsmouth, and Hull City, who hosted West Ham United on Sunday.
Chelsea traveled to Middlesbrough shorn of several injured regulars but went ahead through Salomon Kalou after 14 minutes.
They then cut loose with four goals in 16 minutes early in the second half, starting with another stunning 30-meter shot by Brazilian long-range specialist Juliano Belletti.
A second for Kalou and goals by Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda secured their best away league win for five years.
"From the first moment our football, our movement and passing ... that was the best we've played for a long time," Lampard told Sky Sports.
Egyptian striker Amr Zaki scored twice, including a superb scissor kick, as Wigan outplayed Liverpool to lead 2-1 at halftime after Dirk Kuyt had replied for the hosts.
However, Antonio Valencia was sent off 15 minutes from time and Liverpool cashed in with Albert Riera's equaliser and Kuyt's miss-hit winner with five minutes left.
Agencies
(China Daily 10/20/2008 page11)
