Mixed fortunes for Manchester
MANCHESTER City stumbled to the most unexpected defeat of the Premier League season on Saturday before neighbours Manchester United began their brave new world under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a glorious reminder of long-forgotten attacking swagger.
After City’s sensational 3-2 reverse against Crystal Palace at their Etihad fortress, United seemed liberated and re-energised after Jose Mourinho’s midweek sacking as they romped to a 5-1 win at Cardiff – the first time they have hit five in the league since the final match of the golden Sir Alex Ferguson era in 2013.
A remarkable 30-metre thunderbolt from Andros Townsend adorned Palace’s comeback from a goal down in the rain as Pep Guardiola’s champions City saw their 100% league home record this season shattered.
So, what recently looked like an imperious title defence now looks problematic as City lie four points behind leaders Liverpool, who had thrown down the gauntlet with a 2-0 win at Wolverhampton on Friday.
There was more good news for the Reds as fourth-placed Chelsea also squandered their unbeaten home record with a 1-0 defeat by Leicester City.
Arsenal kept up their pursuit in fifth, thanks to a double from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a 3-1 home win over Burnley that put the Gabonese striker top of the league’s goalscoring charts.
After 18 matches, Liverpool are now the only unbeaten side left in England’s top four divisions on 48 points, with City on 44.
On a remarkable, rain-sodden afternoon at the Etihad, Manchester City, who had lost their season’s unbeaten record at Chelsea two weeks ago, seemed predictably dominant when striding into a first-half lead through Ilkay Gundogan.
But Palace responded quickly with a Jeffrey Schlupp strike and three minutes later a wondrous volley from 30 metres from the mercurial England international Townsend, an early contender for goal of the season.
Luka Milivojevic put the visitors further clear with a penalty after the break before Palace survived a late onslaught that saw Kevin De Bruyne score five minutes from time.
In stark contrast, after a traumatic week which saw the end of Mourinho’s two-and-a-half-year reign, Manchester United seemed mentally and physically re-born, playing with verve, pace and attacking intent that reflected the smile of their still freshfaced caretaker boss and old club hero, Solskjaer.
He was beaming after three minutes when Marcus Rashford’s free kick put United ahead and further goals before halftime from Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial, and a second-half double from Jesse Lingard made it a perfect start for the Norwegian. | Reuters