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If ever there was a moment to move into a new gear and bag your first Premier League hat-trick, this was it. Alvaro Morata has been greeted with a precise balance of admiration and scepticism since his arrival at Chelsea<\/a>, as the apparent Plan B after Romelu Lukaku<\/a> opted for Old Trafford and Diego Costa<\/a> dug his heels in. The Spaniard had made a tidy start to Premier League life, but was still waiting for a dominant performance to confirm that he was a credible line-leader.<\/p>\n This past week added a layer of pressure. The return of Costa to Atletico Madrid was finally formalised, which \u2013 in tandem with Chelsea\u2019s bluntness in the Stamford Bridge stalemate with Arsenal<\/a> \u2013 highlighted the net result of their striking exchange: namely, an aggressive, decisive presence up front.<\/p>\n Away to Stoke, Morata flourished. Within 90 seconds, he raced beyond the hosts\u2019 patched-up defence to finish with what the industry terms as \u201caplomb\u201d. His second was another hugely encouraging showcase of poise, pace and polish, as he strode towards goal and sidefooted beyond Jack Butland. The match ball was secured with a simple finish \u2013 thanks to his serial assister Cesar<\/a> Azpilicueta<\/a> \u2013 but, most importantly, demonstrated a repertoire beyond stealthy penalty-area headers.<\/p>\n Alvaro Morata of Chelsea celebrates scoring a goal during the Premier League match against Stoke CityGetty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n For all their Abramovich-era glories, Chelsea have not been noted for their subtleties up front. The dynamic Didier Drogba<\/a> and Diego Costa grabbed the attention, but there was a sense of all-or-nothing about them. Morata might just deliver the unfussy consistency they have always quietly craved.<\/p>\n After half a dozen rounds of the Premier League season, a semblance of a title-race dynamic has been formed. But, for all Jose Mourinho<\/a>\u2019s control-freakery and Pep Guardiola<\/a>\u2019s supposedly top-heavy tactics, one number stands out: Manchester United<\/a> and Manchester City<\/a> have conceded just two goals each so far.<\/p>\n The means by which they continued their rock-solid starts could not have been more different this weekend, however. United ground out their 1-0 victory at Southampton<\/a> with what one national newspaper described as \u201ccallous efficiency and a charming stubbornness\u201d, with Mourinho applauding his team\u2019s necessary dirty work with such determination that he strayed out of his technical area one too many times and was sent to the stands in injury time. Goalscorer Romelu Lukaku celebrated at the final whistle as if he knew that these were three points that could make all the difference come May.<\/p>\n Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku scored the winner at SouthamptonPA Sport<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n As for City, their hot collective knife needed no encouragement to slice through the butter of Roy Hodgson<\/a>\u2019s utterly impotent Crystal Palace<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have less points than last season,\u201d Guardiola noted after the 5-0 glorified training session, \u201cbut I think we have more goals, conceded less and the feeling is a little bit better. But it\u2019s just September.\u201d<\/p>\n Guardiola\u2019s textbook playing-downage might be wise at this early stage, but no Premier League side can match City\u2019s sheer breadth of attacking options. Sergio Aguero was packed in ice at the hour mark, and Fabian Delph<\/a> stepped out of the shadows to get in on the goalscoring act for the crowning goal, the only of the five that didn\u2019t feel like a routine training-ground tap-in.<\/p>\n Back in his pomp, there was always something relentless about Pavel Nedved<\/strong>. Appropriately then, the 45-year-old Patrick Swayze-in-Point-Break-a-like has decided \u2013 temporarily, at least \u2013 that retirement just isn\u2019t for him.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nManchester clubs continue to provide fascinating contrast<\/h2>\n
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\nIN OTHER NEWS<\/h2>\n