Brilliant Manchester City takes 2point lead in Premier League
LONDON: Manchester City opened up a twopoint lead over neighbour Manchester United at the top of the Premier League thanks to another display of scintillating brilliance in a 72 thrashing of Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.
After the highnoon showdown between Liverpool and a United side lacking in any great ambition ended in goalless stalemate at Anfield, City cashed in with a third straight league match at the Etihad in which it has struck at least five goals.
Pep Guardiola’s men became the first team to net 29 goals in its first eight league games of a topflight campaign in England since Everton in 189495 as some of its main title challengers faltered.
Its sixth consecutive league win moved it to 22 points with United on 20 and Tottenham Hotspur staying third on 17 after finally earning its first home win at Wembley Stadium, 10 over Bournemouth with a Christian Eriksen goal.
Sensation of the day came at Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace, hitherto without a goal and point to its name, downed champion Chelsea 21, with Wilfried Zaha, returning from injury, scoring a fine winner just before the break.
New manager Roy Hodgson celebrated his first win in charge as Palace finally got on the scoresheet — a Cesar Azpilicueta own goal had given it an early lead before Tiemoue Bakayoko equalised — after 731 minutes without a league goal.
Arsenal was, surprisingly, toppled too as Watford came from behind to snatch a 21 win with a 71stminute penalty from Troy Deeney and a stoppagetime strike from Tom Cleverley, which lifted the Hornets to the giddy heights of fourth on 15 points.
The shock defeats left fifthplaced Chelsea and Arsenal both nine points behind leaders City, whose current brand of kaleidoscopic football makes it favoured to regain the title it last won in 2014.
Gabriel Jesus, with a brace, Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Fernandinho, Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva all found the target in the demolition of Stoke, with the side now looking like a proper Guardiola creation.
The orchestrator of the exhilarating triumph did not even get on the scoresheet, but not for the first time this season Kevin de Bruyne was hailed man of the match for his part in four of the goals.
‘‘We didn’t lose easy balls; we play fast and simple. That’s why I am very pleased. It is the best performance since I am here,’’ Guardiola told the BBC.
‘‘He [De Bruyne] is one of the best by far. He is someone who produced a lot of actions. ‘‘He is dynamic,’’ he said. City’s dazzle was a stark contrast to its neighbours’ safetyfirst approach in the underwhelming Anfield game, during which the only Manchester United highlight was David de Gea’s great save to deny Joel Matip.
Liverpool, despite being much the better side, were blunt in attack, failing to convert any of its 19 attempts on goal.
All Whites captain Chris Wood earned an 85thminute equaliser for Burnley in a 1all draw at home to 10man West Ham United. — Reuters