CHELSEA squeezed past Watford 2-1 to maintain its slender lead at the top of the Premier League on Wednesday night. Mason Mount was decisive for the league leader, scoring the 29th-minute opener and then setting up Hakim Ziyech for the winner after Watford had equalized from Bonaventure’s deflected 43rd-minute shot. The game was halted for half an hour in the first half for a medical emergency and Watford later confirmed a fan was in a stable condition after suffering a cardiac arrest while in the stands. Only two points separate Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League. Liverpool hit four goals for a third consecutive game by beating Everton 4-1 Wednesday, taking the team’s scoring tally to 43 in 14 games — the most in a major European league so far. Jurgen Klopp’s 2020 champions remained in third, but with another 24 games to go that’s far from a concern. Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool made it three Premier League victories in a row and inflict further pressure on Toffees boss Rafael Benitez. The Reds raced two goals in front inside 20 minutes in an away game against Everton for just the third time in the competition’s history thanks to strikes from Jordan Henderson and Salah. Demarai Gray pulled a goal back before half-time to improve the mood around the ground, which began emptying after the second of Liverpool’s goals, but Salah gave Liverpool some breathing space with his second. Diogo Jota blasted home a fourth to highlight the gulf between the clubs and add some gloss to a win that keeps Liverpool within one point of Manchester City and two behind leader Chelsea. Manchester City won 2-0 at Aston Villa. The top three pulled away from fourth place after West Ham was held 1-1 by Brighton. Leicester and Southampton also drew 2-2, while the meeting between Wolverhampton and Burnley was goalless. (SD-Agencies) | 