Chelsea

Antonio Conte's team looked in danger of a third draw in four league games when Fernando Llorente cancelled out Cesc Fabregas's early goal but Pedro and Diego Costa secured victory, producing a clean sweep of goals by Spanish internationals.

Chelsea, beaten only once in 20 matches in all competitions, have 63 points from 26 matches, with Manchester City, who are not in action this weekend, on 52 from 25.

Tottenham Hotspur could trim the gap to 10 points if they beat Stoke City at home on Sunday.

Spain striker Costa was denied by Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet, who made amends for being caught off guard by a superb David Luiz free kick midway through the first half.

Georginio Wijnaldum's close-range header levelled the scores in the 57th minute as Liverpool avoided a fourth consecutive home defeat in all competitions although Juergen Klopp's side remain 10 points adrift in fourth place.

Arsenal, who began the day second, suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat by Watford who managed a first league win in eight games.

 It was the London side's sixth successive league victory without conceding a goal and put them on 28 points from 12 games, a point ahead of the Merseyside club and Manchester City.

The league's leading scorer, Costa, hit his 10th goal of the season to put them in front four minutes before the break.

'Boro, promoted last season, found it hard to make any clear opportunities against a solid Chelsea defence and remain in the bottom six, one point clear of the relegation places.

Mourinho endured an embarrassing return to Stamford Bridge as former club Chelsea piled on the misery in a 4-0 Premier League rout on Sunday.

United were put to the sword early, conceding a goal to Pedro inside 30 seconds before Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante consigned the visitors to a third defeat of the season, leaving Mourinho and Co. seventh in the table.

United have no time to lick their wounds, with arch-rivals Manchester City awaiting in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

Chelsea's defence was highly culpable as Shinji Okazaki ended a 13-game goal drought with two first-half goals for the Premier League champions, but two of Antonio Conte's back four were able to make amends either side of the interval.

Captain Gary Cahill headed home a Fabregas corner in first-half stoppage time before Cesar Azpilicueta – who tried in vain to hack both Okazaki goals off the line – elevated a pulsating match further with a spectacular long-range volley in the 49th minute.

Shinji Okazaki capitalised on some poor defending to give the hosts a 2-0 lead at the King Power Stadium but Gary Cahill headed Chelsea back into the contest on the stroke of half-time.

Cesar Azpilicueta volleyed a magnificent equaliser in the 49th minute when Fabregas' cross was partially cleared and the Spain playmaker made the most of Chelsea's numerical advantage – Leicester defender Marcin Wasilewski was sent off for striking Diego Costa in the 89th minute – with two goals inside the opening four minutes of the additional period.

Falcao, 30, endured two miserable seasons in the Premier League, first with United and then with Chelsea as he netted just five goals in all competitions.

The Colombia striker returned to Monaco for this season and has already struck twice in three games.

Vasilyev was unimpressed by how United and Chelsea treated Falcao, who he believes will return to his best.

"Both clubs in England failed to relaunch him," he told the Daily Mail.

Chelsea star Eden Hazard needs to handle expectations if he is to produce his very best form for the club, former midfielder Michael Ballack has said.

The Belgium international inspired Chelsea to a Premier League and League Cup double in 2014-15, but endured a hugely disappointing campaign last year as the champions finished 10th in the top flight.

At the other end of the table Swansea City improved their prospects of avoiding relegation with a 2-1 win at Everton in new Italian head coach Francesco Guidolin's first match.

Arsenal's German defender Per Mertesacker was sent off after 18 minutes for denying a goalscoring opportunity to Diego Costa, who scored the only goal five minutes later from a cross by Branislav Ivanovic.

Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa scored the goals for caretaker manager Guus Hiddink's first official win, lifting them to 14th, six points from safety.

Tottenham lost ground on the top three as they could only draw 1-1 at Everton in this morning's other match.