Arsenal go top, Liverpool in tow

Arsenal set a new record for scoring in consecutive matches in the top flight of English football as they maintained their lead…

Arsenal set a new record for scoring in consecutive matches in the top flight of English football as they maintained their lead at the top of the Premiership on Saturday.

Thierry Henry's fourth goal of the season, a minute before half-time, set the Gunners on their way to a 3-0 win at Charlton and meant they have now scored in 45 consecutive league games, surpassing the achievement of Manchester City in 1936-37.

Henry's French international colleague Sylvain Wiltord got the second in the 67th minute after a sweeping counter attack. Brazilian Edu added a third right at the end.

Arsenal have now scored in every league match since their goalless draw with Newcastle on May 15 2001.

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Saturday's win also enabled them to set a new club record of 27 consecutive league games unbeaten, the perfect tonic as they prepare to start their Champions League campaign against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

After six games, Arsenal have already opened up a six-point lead over arch rivals Manchester United, who lost at Leeds earlier in the day to continue their worst ever Premiership start.

Czech international striker Milan Baros made his case for a regular place in the Liverpool team with a brilliant double against Bolton in his first Premiership start.

But it was Emile Heskey who made sure of the points in a 3-2 victory with the winner two minutes from the end, sparing Liverpool the embarrassment of squandering a two-goal lead for the third straight game.

With Michael Owen relegated to the substitutes bench, Baros drilled a right-foot shot home from the edge of the area to put Liverpool ahead on the stroke of half-time.

Riccardo Gardner equalised before Baros claimed his second with a deft finish off Steven Gerrard's cross.

Ivan Campo appeared to have snatched a point for Bolton in the 87th minute but only a minute later Heskey popped up to claim the points.

Chelsea went third after strolling to a 3-0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge, with Eidur Gudjohnsen scoring twice.

After the Icelander had put Chelsea ahead, the on-form Gianfranco Zola scored his third in two games with a 26th-minute free-kick that took a wicked deflection off Gary Speed in the Everton wall.

Gudjohnsen killed the match as a contest by slotting in a simple third from Zola's pass after Newcastle keeper Shay Given had failed to clear his lines.

Captain Kevin Campbell, with two goals, and goalkeeper Paul Gerrard, with a string of saves, were the heroes as Everton claimed their first home win of the season, beating Middlesborough 2-1.

Slovakian striker Szilard Nemeth had put Middlesbrough ahead with his third goal of the season, tapping in after Massimo Maccarone's shot was parried by Gerrard.

Fulham continued their impressive start to the season with a 3-0 win at Sunderland.

Junichi Inamoto continued his drive to become as much of a hero in west London as he is in Japan with his sixth goal of the season to set Fulham on their way.

Barry Hayles got the second before Inamoto's defence-splitting pass sent Steve Marlet through for the London club's third.

Premiership newcomers West Brom continued to defy predictions they would struggle in the top flight with a 1-0 win over Southampton, secured by a Sean Gregan strike 11 minutes from time.