City flying as United bumble to draw
● Manchester City moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League as Raheem Sterling inspired a 3-1 win over Bournemouth, and Manchester United’s problems mounted as they escaped with a 22 draw at lowly Southampton yesterday.
Pep Guardiola’s side racked up their sixth successive league win thanks to a secondhalf surge after Bournemouth shocked the Etihad Stadium.
City hold a significant lead over secondplaced Liverpool, but the Reds can close the gap back to two points if they beat Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield today.
“A good win, after the Champions League it is always tough. People think it’s easy for us but that is not the truth, so I like to win in this way,” Guardiola said.
“In the second half one action from Raheem Sterling changed the game.”
It was a landmark moment for former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola, who said: “My 400th win as a manager? I didn’t know that. Congratulations Pep!” Guardiola left City’s record goal-scorer Sergio Aguero out of the squad, but even the Argentine star’s absence couldn’t halt the champions’ momentum.
It took City just 16 minutes to shatter Bournemouth’s resistance as Bernardo Silva bagged his second goal of the season.
Leroy Sane’s shot was saved by Asmir Begovic, but Silva was on hand to tap into the empty net.
City were stunned in the 44th minute when Callum Wilson headed Bournemouth’s equaliser from a Simon Francis cross. But the leaders restored order in the 57th minute as Sterling continued his mastery of Eddie Howe’s team.
Sterling netted from close range after Begovic spilled Danilo’s shot, making it eight goals in six league appearances against Bournemouth for the City winger.
Ilkay Gundogan put the result beyond doubt when the German finished a fine move involving Bernardo Silva and Sane in the 79th minute.
While City remain the team to beat, their rivals United remain in turmoil after their winless league run extended to three games.
Jose Mourinho’s side desperately needed victory at St Mary’s to stay in the hunt for the top four, but they were relieved to avoid defeat after falling two goals behind against third-bottom Saints.
Southampton had won only once in 13 league matches this season, yet within 12 minutes they had opened United’s defence.
Nathan Redmond wriggled beyond four statuesque defenders on the edge of the penalty area before finding Michael Obafemi, who teed up Stuart Armstrong for a fierce drive that flashed past David de Gea.
Mourinho sat stern-faced on the bench as Southampton celebrated and his expression was even more vexed eight minutes later as Marcus Rashford’s needless foul on Mario Lemina led to Southampton’s second.
Cedric Soares lined up the resulting freekick 20m from goal and curled a superb effort over the United wall into the top corner.
Romelu Lukaku gave United a lifeline when he slotted home from Rashford’s pass in the 33rd minute as the Belgian striker grabbed his first goal in 13 games.
Ander Herrera equalised in the 39th minute when he met Rashford’s low cross with a back-heeled effort from close range.
But seventh-placed United reverted to their spluttering form after the interval and are now six points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, who play Fulham today.
Crystal Palace ended their eight-game winless league run with a 2-0 success over fellow strugglers Burnley.
Brighton conceded the fastest goal in the Premier League this season, but Chris Hughton’s team recovered to win 2-1 at 10man Huddersfield.
Leicester won for just the second time in seven league games as Watford slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium, with Jamie Vardy and James Maddison scoring.
West Ham ended Newcastle’s threematch winning run as Javier Hernandez struck twice in a 3-0 victory at St James Park.