—- English Premier League clubs have maintained an unbeaten record in the UEFA Champions League this week after Tuesday’s trio of win were followed by easy victories for Liverpool and Chelsea plus an away draw for Tottenham.

Liverpool scored three goals in nine first-half minutes in a 5-1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt, endng their poor run of four consecutive losses across all competitions.

Frankfurt started well and opened the scoring when Rasmus Kristensen struck in the 26th minute, firing past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and in off the far post.

But Hugo Ekitike drew the Reds level with a breakaway goal against his former team in the 35th minute, collecting a long pass from Andy Robertson and racing through from the halfway line before calmly slotting past goalkeeper Michael Zetterer.

The floodgates opened as captain Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate headed home from corners in the 38th and 43rd minutes.

Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai struck in the second half on a night that turned ugly for the home side.

The decisive victory was a much-needed confidence boost for Arne Slot’s reigning Premier League champions, who had lost four straight games for the first time since November 2014.

In France Monaco’s poor start to their campaign continued when they were held 0-0 at home by Tottenham in new coach Sebastien Pocognoli’s first game in charge in the competition.

The Ligue 1 side, who have two points from three games, had the clearest chances but Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario proved decisive between the posts.

Tottenham, who conceded more than 20 shots in a one-sided encounter, are 15th in the 36-team table on five points while Monaco sit in 27th place, in the elimination zone.

In London Chelsea thrashed Ajax Amsterdam 5-1 in an eventful if error-strewn tie that included three penalties and a red card in pouring rain at Stamford Bridge.

Ajax, who have now lost all three European games this season, had their fate sealed in the 17th minute when captain Kenneth Taylor was sent off for a dangerous tackle and Marc Guiu, 19, scored a minute later.

Moises Caicedo made it 2-0 nine minutes later and, though Wout Weghorst reduced the deficit with a penalty, his strike was followed by spot kicks late in the first half from Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and 18-year-old Brazilian Estevao as the Amsterdam side lost discipline.

Chelsea, who have two wins and a defeat from their three Champions League games so far, buzzed round Ajax’s area for most of the second half which included an early goal from another 19-year-old Tyrique George.

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