Pep’s men march on as replacements rout Luton
High-scoring premier league action sees City go top and Newcastle smash Spurs
LONDON — With some of Manchester City’s regular starters rested, Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic made sure the defending champion didn’t miss a step in its race for the English Premier League title.
Kovacic and Doku scored in the second half, as Man City pulled away for a comfortable 5-1 win over relegation-threatened Luton on Saturday, despite manager Pep Guardiola perhaps having one eye on Wednesday’s game against Real Madrid.
Guardiola rested a handful of players — including key midfielder Rodri — but saw the replacements fill in convincingly. Kovacic made it 2-0 in the 51st minute with a thunderous strike from the edge of the area, while Doku earned the penalty that led to City’s third goal, scored the fourth himself and assisted on the fifth.
“You cannot play the same people (in every game), it is impossible,” Guardiola said. “Everyone has permission to score and it’s so important.”
The win lifted City into first place, two points ahead of title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, who were both set to play on Sunday.
“The only way is to win our games and keep the pressure on them,” said Guardiola. “We have done our job and that is what we have to do.”
It was also perfect preparation for Madrid’s visit in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal, following a 3-3 draw in Spain last week. Kevin de Bruyne missed that game with an illness, but was back in the starting lineup against Luton, as was goalkeeper Ederson.
And, with the three-way title race in the league looking set to go down to the wire, Guardiola knows this was just one of many must-win games the team will face before the end of the season.
“Try and extend (the title race) one more week, one more week, one more week,” Guardiola said. “Today we will sleep top of the league, look at tomorrow, and we will know what we have to do.”
While Erling Haaland scored five goals when the sides met in the FA Cup in February, the Norwegian had to settle for just one time this time around, scoring from the penalty spot to claim his 20th Premier League goal of the season.
Ross Barkley netted a late consolation for Luton, but it has just five games left to save its top-flight status.
Damaging defeat
For the second year in a row, Newcastle handed Tottenham Hotspur a drubbing at St James’ Park.
After beating Spurs 6-1 at home last April, Newcastle routed Ange Postecoglou’s team 4-0, damaging the visitors’ hopes of a top-four finish. Just like last year, Alexander Isak netted two of the goals, taking his season tally to 17 in the league and 21 overall.
Anthony Gordon made it 2-0 just 95 seconds after Isak opened the scoring, and added two assists.
“Playing football is really fun at the moment, especially when we have days like this,” Isak said.
It wasn’t a fun day for Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven, though.
The centerback was partially at fault for the first two goals, as he slipped both times and let Isak and Gordon get past him inside the area.
The thrashing means Tottenham drop below Aston Villa into fifth, trailing the midlands club on goal difference.
Newcastle sits in sixth place, 10 points behind Villa and Tottenham.
“We’ve just got to keep doing our bit, which is trying to win every game,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
“We’re hopefully returning to somewhere near our best and we’ve got to keep heading in that direction.”
Decisions favor United
Two penalty decisions helped Manchester United earn a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, although any chance of qualifying for the Champions League seems to be slipping away.
Tottenham’s loss gave United a chance to close the gap, but Erik ten Hag’s team was 10 points behind fourth place with six games to go, after four league matches without a win.
“We know when you come into the final stage of the season, that this is not enough,” Ten Hag said of the result. “But, the truth is, today we didn’t deserve more.”
Indeed, this was another performance that suggested this United side is still a long way away from challenging Europe’s elite.
Only a soft penalty in the 65th minute helped United equalize with Bruno Fernandes slotting home his second of the game. Referee Tony Harrington pointed to the spot when a deflected shot hit the arm of Adam Smith in the area.
Harrington then awarded Bournemouth an injury-time penalty when Ryan Christie collided with United defender Willy Kambwala as he was running into the box, but it was overturned after VAR ruled the foul happened just outside the area.
Battle at the bottom
At the bottom end of the table, the relegation battle is heating up as Nottingham Forest and Burnley couldn’t take full advantage of Luton’s loss, with both teams settling for a draw.
Forest drew with Wolves 2-2, despite Morgan Gibbs-White scoring against his former club after being set up by a corner from US international Gio Reyna, who was making his first start for the club. Matheus Cunha scored both goals for Wolves, one of which was the crucial 62nd-minute equalizer.
A mistake by goalkeeper Aro Muric cost Burnley in a 1-1 draw with Brighton. Josh Brownhill capitalized on a poor back pass by Carlos Baleba in the 74th minute to give Burnley the lead, but Muric then let a routine pass from Sander Berge slip in under his foot.
That leaves Burnley still six points from safety in 19th place, while Forest sits 17th, one point above Luton.
Last-placed Sheffield United inched ever closer to relegation after losing 2-0 to Brentford, which ended its nine-game winless streak.
Brentford is seven points above Luton with five games remaining.