LONDON. — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his side are “feeling better” about their title challenge this season on a day when the English Premier League soccer’s top three all won.

City, who defeated Crystal Palace 5-0 on Saturday, lead Manchester United – 1-0 winners at Southampton – on goal difference, with Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho claiming that the race to be crowned champions will be between six teams.

The Manchester clubs have a three-point lead over champions Chelsea after their 4-0 win at Stoke and Blues boss Antonio Conte challenged striker Alvaro Morata to continue his good form after the Spaniard scored a hat-trick.

Tottenham Hotspur sit fourth after holding on to win 3-2 at West Ham, while Liverpool are up to fifth after a thrilling victory by the same scoreline at Leicester City.

Guardiola enjoyed a scintillating start to life as City boss at the beginning of last season, winning his first 10 matches in charge across all competitions.

But, from a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League at the end of September, City fell away to finish 15 points behind Chelsea.

An unbeaten start has City top again this season, with Guardiola saying he feels more comfortable this term after five wins and a draw, despite not matching last year’s 100% start from seven matches.

“We have less points than last season now but I think we have more goals and conceded less,” he said. “The feeling I think is a little bit better, but it’s just September.”

Their hammering of Palace made it 11 goals in two Premier Leagues games, with Raheem Sterling netting twice at Etihad Stadium in addition to strikes from Leroy Sane, Sergio Aguero and Fabian Delph.

Going into the weekend’s games, City and United were level at the top with identical records of points, wins, goals scored and goals conceded.

United lost ground on their fierce rivals in terms of goal difference, but their 1-0 win at Southampton pleased Mourinho because of its hard-fought nature.

Romelu Lukaku scored in his sixth successive league game in the first half, only for Saints to improve in the second and have chances to take a share of the points.

“Last season on this type of fixture we would have given away maybe five or six points, so we are better,” said Mourinho, who claimed he did not know why he was sent to the stands by referee Craig Pawson late on.

“It’s just the beginning. I think six teams are going to fight for the title.”

Since defeat at home by Burnley on the opening day, Chelsea have won four and drawn one in the league to sit third.

On Saturday, Morata scored three in the comfortable defeat of Stoke to take his tally for the season to six – level at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with Lukaku and Aguero.

Morata, signed as a replacement for Diego Costa, was tasked by Conte with repeating his scoring feats over the course of the season.

“Morata played a good game,” said the Italian. “It was a really good performance. Now he has to continue this way to be a great striker.”

Chelsea host Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

“I think we have to be focused at what we do and not others,” added the Italian. “We want to fight in every competition we are playing.”

Spurs were 3-0 up after two goals from Harry Kane and one from Christian Eriksen, but saw Serge Aurier sent off for two yellow cards and had to withstand a late West Ham rally at London Stadium.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino praised Kane, who has been the leading scoring in the Premier League in the past two seasons.

“I find it hard to find the words to describe him,” said Pochettino. “I am in love like the fans are in love, like his team-mates are in love,” said the Argentine.

“He is so humble, he keeps all the values that managers like me appreciate a lot. That is why I am in love with him for different reasons.” — BBC Sport

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