By Toby Prince
Diego Costa eased Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s concerns as Aston Villa’s hapless defenders heaped more misery on Tim Sherwood at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Costa returned from suspension to score one and force another as the Premier League champions won 2-0 and their fans sang “we are staying up” – something which cannot be said with any certainty of Sherwood’s Villa.
Brad Guzan’s woeful clearance and Joleon Lescott’s poor control allowed Willian to nick in before he passed the ball to Costa who tapped into an open goal.
If Chelsea had not had much luck to date, as Mourinho has said, they received more good fortune when a Costa shot looped in off Alan Hutton to complete the victory.
Raheem Sterling grabbed a first-half hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed Bournemouth 5-1 at the Etihad.
Wilfried Bony also grabbed a brace for the Citizens in the rout with Glenn Murray scoring a consolation for the Cherries.
Manchester United ran out 3-0 victors over a lacklustre Everton side at Goodison Park with Wayne Rooney among the goals.
Morgan Schneirderlin and Ander Herrera began the onslaught in the first-half before Rooney wrapped things up for the Red Devils.
Arsenal moved to second in the Premier League with an impressive 3-0 win at Watford.
The Gunners, who had beaten Manchester United before the international break, were made to work hard for their victory following a spirited effort by the well-organised Hornets.
Ultimately, though, the technical superiority of Arsene Wenger’s men proved enough, as in-form Alexis Sanchez netted after a breakaway on 62 minutes, with goals from substitute Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey helping to keep Arsenal only two points behind leaders Manchester City.
Wenger acknowledged his side had not impressed early on, but hailed their desire to secure a sixth win of the 2015-16 campaign.
“It was difficult in the first half because Watford were well organised,” he told Sky Sports. “In the first 20 minutes we were maybe not completely in the game, then slowly we understood we have to commit more.
“In the second half it was relentless. When we scored we continued to go and it was a convincing win with a good performance.”
Sanchez – who was a fitness doubt prior to kick-off – came in for specific praise from Wenger after another impressive display from the Chile international.
He added: “He’s so confident. He always goes forwards, pushes defenders backwards. I must say he was absolutely outstanding again today.”
