Man City extends EPL lead to eight

MANCHESTER City has opened an eight-point gap at the top of the English Premier League as it continued its irresistible form with a 3-1 home victory over Arsenal.

Its closest pursuer, Manchester United, lost 1-0 at Chelsea ahead of the international break.

City took its goals tally in all competitions this season to 52 as Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and substitute Gabriel Jesus ensured a ninth-successive league win.

“We could have scored five or six today,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “We just needed to be more clinical.” Alexandre Lacazette did pull a goal back for Arsenal but Arsene Wenger’s side is now 12 points adrift in sixth spot.

Jose Mourinho’s third competitive visit to former club Chelsea after being sacked three years ago ended in a third defeat as Alvaro Morata’s first goal since September sealed victory for the champions at Stamford Bridge.

Morata scored with a brilliant header in the 55th minute to hand the Red Devils a second loss of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min became the Asian player with the most EPL goals as he scored in the 64th minute to secure a 1-0 home win over bottom club Crystal Palace. It was his 20th top-flight goal.

Spurs are on 23 points from 11 games, the same as United, with City racing away at the top with 31.

Champions Chelsea are fourth with 22, followed by Liverpool and Arsenal on 19. Everton clawed back a twogoal deficit against Watford to win 3-2, courtesy of a Leighton Baines penalty in stoppage time.

Watford then had a penalty of its own with 101 minutes on the clock but Tom Cleverley missed.

Victory snapped a run of five successive defeats in all competitions for Everton and took them out of the relegation zone up to 15th. Reuters