Chelsea crushed Everton 5-0 on Saturday to storm to the top of the Premier League with a vintage display after Manchester City was held 1-1 at home by a last-minute goal from promoted Middlesbrough.
It was the first time City had been knocked off the top all season. Chelsea's sparking performance sent it a point clear, although Arsenal and Liverpool had an opportunity to overtake them by winning home games on Sunday.
Successive losses to those teams in September raised questions about whether Antonio Conte's side was ready for a serious attempt to regain the title it lost last season.