Sterling goals helping keep City above Red Devils
RAHEEM Sterling shone for City and Romelu Lukaku delivered for United as the Manchester clubs maintained their grip on the Premier League title race with wins yesterday.
Sterling scored a brace as City crushed bottom club Crystal Palace 5- 0 to go top on goal difference above United, who won 1- 0 at Southampton courtesy of Lukaku’s first- half goal.
Champions Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool all kept pace with the top two, putting the pressure on Arsenal, who host West Bromwich Albion tomorrow.
“The first half we had problems as the ball must be moved and we didn’t move it,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.
“But the last 10- 15 minutes of the half, we got it. The second half was much, much bet- ter. ( Leroy) Sane’s ( opening) goal was so important.”
Palace have lost their first six games of the season after crashing to a heavy defeat at the Etihad Stadium in Roy Hodgson’s second league game as manager.
City went in front shortly before halftime when Leroy Sane converted after a onetwo with David Silva.
Sterling’s double took the game beyond Palace, the England forward tapping in passes from Sane and Sergio Aguero in the 51st and 59th minutes.
Aguero made it 4- 0, heading in Sane’s cross to close to within one goal of Eric Brook’s all- time City record of 177 goals, before Fabian Delph curled in a fine fifth.
Guardiola’s side have scored 16 goals in their past three league games, having previously trounced Liverpool 5- 0 and won 6- 0 at Watford.
United had a rather less straightforward afternoon at Southampton, but they prevailed thanks to Lukaku’s sixth goal of the campaign.
The Belgium international struck in the 20th minute, scoring at the second attempt after his header from Ashley Young’s inswinging cross was saved by Fraser Forster.