City thump Liverpool to join United at top

Blues make most of red card for Mane

Manchester City thrashed 10-man Liverpool 5-0 in an eventful Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium, on Saturday after Reds forward Sadio Mane was sent off in the first half.

City went ahead in the lunchtime kickoff in the 25th minute through Sergio Aguero before Mane clattered into goalkeeper Ederson with a high challenge at the edge of the penalty area.

Referee Jon Moss brandished the red card to the Liverpool forward, with Ederson taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Claudio Bravo.

City made the most of their advantage, as Gabriel Jesus nodded in a second before the break.

The Brazilian tapped in the third goal in the 53rd minute after being set up by Aguero, before substitute Leroy Sane added a fourth from close range in the 77th minute and then curled a superb 20-yard effort into the top-left corner during stoppage time.

Manchester United remain top of the table, above City on goal difference, despite two goals from Cameroon forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting earning Stoke a 2-2 draw in the evening kick-off at the bet365 Stadium.

Choupo-Moting, a summer recruit from Schalke, put the Potters ahead on 43 minutes.

United, though, were back on level terms just three minutes later through Marcus Rashford, who inadvertently deflected a header from Paul Pogba into the net following a corner.

Romelu Lukaku gave United, who had made a 100% start to the Premier League season, the lead on 57 minutes but Choupo-Moting secured a point for the home side with a header.

Arsenal eased the pressure on manager Arsene Wenger with a 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium over Bournemouth, who suffered a fourth straight Premier League defeat.

Danny Welbeck scored twice with club-record signing Alexandre Lacazette also on the scoresheet.

Alexis Sanchez, who looked to be leaving ahead of the transfer deadline, came on for the closing stages.

Champions Chelsea won 2-1 at Leicester with summer signing Alvaro Morata and former Foxes midfielder N’Golo Kante netting.

Leicester reduced the deficit through a penalty from Jamie Vardy.

Harry Kane scored twice in Tottenham’s 3-0 win at Everton with Christian Eriksen scoring in between.

Brighton secured their first win in the Premier League, beating West Brom 3-1 at the Amex Stadium with two goals from Pascal Gross.

Scotland’s James Morrison scored for the Baggies.

Watford won 2-0 at Southampton to end Saints’ unbeaten start.

Abdoulaye Doucoure put the visitors ahead seven minutes before half-time and defender Daryl Janmaat curled in the second after 66 minutes.

Sadio Mane: sent off after high challenge on City keeper Ederson.