Sadio Mane scored twice as Liverpool took advantage of their title rivals' inactivity to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 win at home to Cardiff on Saturday as Bournemouth and Watford both continued their fine starts to the season.
Liverpool were the only club who started the weekend among the top five in action on Saturday, with reigning champions Manchester City not facing Tottenham Hotspur until Monday. Meanwhile midweek European commitments also meant that Chelsea, like City and Liverpool yet to lose in the Premier League this season, were playing Burnley on Sunday, when in-form Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace and Manchester United welcome Everton to Old Trafford.
Mohamed Salah, now putting a stuttering start to the season behind him, fired Liverpool into a 10th-minute lead. Bournemouth closed on fifth-placed Tottenham with a 3-0 win away to Fulham.
Callum Wilson won and then scored a 14th-minute penalty after he was brought down by Timothy Fosu-Mensah. Watford were far too strong for Huddersfield in a 3-0 win at Vicarage Road. Elsewhere, Brighton striker Glenn Murray, fresh from suffering concussion against Newcastle last week, returned to score his 100th goal for the Seagulls in a 1-0 win at home to Wolves.