Impressive leaders Chelsea 13-5 for title joy

THE Premier League lead has changed hands with Chelsea looking down on the rest after a deserved 1-0 success at Middlesbrough.

Diego Costa scored the only goal of the game, making him the first player to reach ten Premier League goals this season, as the Blues moved one point clear of Liverpool and Manchester City.

Hills were impressed enough to rate the west London outfit joint-favourites alongside City at 9-4 and it is the first time since Pep Guardiola arrived in England that they have not made the Manchester men sole favourites, although that view is not shared elsewhere.

Antonio Conte’s team are 13-5 with Paddy Power to be crowned champions and the Riverside scoreline did not do justice to their dominance as they cruised to a sixth straight top-flight win to nil.

Things should be tougher for Chelsea on Saturday – they host unbeaten Tottenham at Stamford Bridge in a derby that will be keenly contested after last season’s meeting saw 12 yellow cards.

Hills offer 17-20 that Chelsea end Tottenham’s unbeaten start and bet365 are 33-1 the Blues match Manchester United’s Premier League record of nine consecutive victories without conceding.

Chelsea head to City after the Spurs clash so the next couple of weeks will tell us more about their title charge, although it could be argued they currently look the most complete side in the league,

David Luiz has been outstanding in Chelsea’s three-man defence, while Costa continues to be a thorn to the opposition with yesterday’s close-range finish taking him two clear in the goalscoring charts and 9-4 to win the Golden Boot.

Newcastle are only 1-4 to claim the Sky Bet Championship after Dwight Gayle grabbed both goals in a 2-0 victory at Leeds which saw the Magpies move five points clear at the summit.

Rafael Benitez’s side are 6-1 with bet365 to surpass Reading’s record 106-point tally in England’s second division.