It’s now 14 victories in a row for Pep as Man United falter

London – Manchester City took a giant step towards the title as the leaders beat Manchester United 2-1 to clinch a record-equalling 14th successive Premier League victory, while Wayne Rooney’s late leveller gave Everton a 1-1 draw at Liverpool yesterday.

City drew level with Arse- nal’s previous record winning streak, set between February and August 2002, thanks to Nicolas Otamendi’s second-half winner.

Pep Guardiola’s latest success at the expense of old rival Jose Mourinho could drain much of the drama for the title race as it would take an epic meltdown for City to surrender their substantial lead. Having bossed the first half, City’s pressure was rewarded in the 43rd minute.

Kevin de Bruyne’s corner was flicked on and, with Ashley Young playing Silva onside, the Spaniard hooked home from close range.

Mourinho’s team were gifted an equaliser in first-half stoppage time when City defender Fabian Delph made a hash of clearing and Marcus Rashford pounced to slot past Ederson for his ninth club goal of the season.

But United returned the favour with an even more farcical piece of defending in the 54th minute.

Silva’s free-kick should have been cleared by Romelu Lukaku, but instead the Belgian slammed a panicked clearance into the back of United teammate Chris Smalling and the ball looped towards Argentine defender Otamendi, who stretched to fire home.

At Anfield, Liverpool had taken the lead in the 229th meeting of the old rivals when Mohamed Salah spectacularly curled home from the edge of the penalty area in the 42nd minute. It was the Egypt winger’s 13th goal in 12 games and 19th of season, but the Reds were unable to find a killer second goal.

Everton kept their discipline and refused to wilt and were awarded a spot-kick by referee Craig Pawson after Dejan Lovren barged over Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Rooney claimed the first Merseyside derby goal of his career as he drilled the penalty down the middle with 13 minutes left. In the day’s other game, Olivier Giroud’s lastgasp header salvaged a point for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw at Southampton.