Manchester clubs win as United stars return
PREMIER League leaders Manchester City brushed aside Leicester City 2-0 for their 16th successive win in all competitions as Manchester United welcomed back long-term absentees Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a 4-1 rout of Newcastle United.
With Tottenham Hotspur losing ground after a 2-0 derby defeat at neighbours Arsenal, the league continues to look like an argument between Manchester’s big two who are separated by eight points.
A tap-in by Gabriel Jesus and a stunning strike from Kevin de Bruyne provided the City goals against a Leicester team who have often troubled them in the past.
The home side went close to equalising when Harry McGuire hit the post after the break, but City went straight up the other end and put the result beyond doubt with a stunning counter-attack that De Bruyne rounded off with an unstoppable 20-yard shot in the 49th minute.
The only concern for City manager Pep Guardiola was an injury to John Stones, who hobbled off before the break and may not play again this year.
“We are going to miss [John Stones] for a long time, maybe six weeks off,” Guardiola said after the game.
“It is tough because the calendar is so demanding. We don’t have many central defenders and they will suffer but we will find a solution.”
The successful return of Vincent Kompany from injury will provide compensation although the Belgian was fortunate to escape with a booking for a foul on Jamie Vardy in the third minute.
United’s Pogba and Ibrahimovic were also back in action at Old Trafford. The Frenchman contributed an assist and scored United’s third in an impressive 70-minute appearance before Ibrahimovic made an unexpected return from the bench after seven months out with a knee injury.
“It’s my head that is playing; my knee just needs to follow,” he said after his 15-minute cameo.
Anthony Martial, Chris Smalling and Romelu Lukaku scored the other goals as United hit four in the league for the seventh time this season after Marcus Gayle had given Newcastle the lead.
At Arsenal, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was “disappointed in the performance and the way we conceded the goals” after the derby defeat scuppered suggestions of a permanent shift in the north London balance of power.
Arsenal went ahead through a controversial goal from Shkodran Mustafi, which Pochettino thought should not have stood.
At Anfield, Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool beat Southampton 3-0 to record three consecutive Premier League wins.
Chelsea had an equally untroubled afternoon after beating West Bromwich Albion 4-0.
The Premier League’s two worst defences, Crystal Palace and Everton, predictably leaked goals as honours were shared in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park, while Callum Wilson scored a hat-trick to earn 10man Bournemouth victory over Huddersfield Town.
Burnley continued their impressive start to the season with a 2-0 win over Swansea City. Jack Cork and Ashley Barnes scored the goals to leave seventh-placed Burnley level on points with Liverpool and Arsenal. – Reuters