Lukaku, Sterling make a point
Raheem Sterling shone for Manchester City and Romelu Lukaku delivered for Manchester United as the Manchester clubs maintained a tight grip on the Premier League title race with Saturday victories.
Sterling scored a brace as City crushed bottom club Crystal Palace 5-0 and are top on goal difference above United, who won 1-0 at Southampton courtesy of Lukaku’s first-half goal.
Champions Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur kept pace with the top two, putting the pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal, who host West Bromwich Albion on Monday. Palace have now 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.
EARLY BLOW
City suffered an early blow when left-back Benjamin Mendy was forced off after hurting his knee in a collision with Andros Townsend, with Danilo taking his place.
Pep Guardiola’s side went in front shortly before half-time when Leroy Sane converted after a one-two with David Silva.
Sterling’s quick-fire 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. City have scored 16 goals in their last 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 in-swinging cross was saved by Fraser Forster.
MORATA TREBLE
United manager Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands in stoppage time after encroaching onto the pitch.
Chelsea remain three points off the pace in third place after Alvaro Morata scored a hattrick in a 4-0 win at Stoke City.
The Spain striker struck three times, opening the scoring in the second minute, with Pedro also on target.
KANE HITS BRACE
Harry Kane took his tally to six goals in four games as Tottenham Hotspur won 3-2 at West Ham United to claim a third successive away win.
Kane’s first-half brace and a Christian Eriksen effort put Spurs 3-0 up before Serge Aurier was sent off and West Ham came back into the game through Javier Hernandez and Cheikhou Kouyate.
“I just want to score against every team. I am delighted to get a couple and help the team win,” said Kane, who has also scored two goals in the Champions League and two for England this month.
“We know we have to improve our home form and we will be right up there. To get nine points from three away games is really good.”
“We suffered a little bit, but I like it when you suffer, because it means you are alive,” said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. “Overall I think we deserved to win and the good thing is we can compete.”