Pep talk inspires City in victory
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was pleased with his team’s second-half showing after a sluggish start in the 5-0 English Premier League win over Crystal Palace.
The victory moved City to the top of the EPL on goal difference from Manchester United, which won 1-0 at Southampton.
Palace hit the post twice in the first half and is still seeking a first point and first goal in the league campaign and Guardiola admitted his side was second best in the opening 45 minutes.
“We started well, in the first five or 10 minutes, but after that we were not good,” he said.
“We did not move the ball well but in the second half we were at our level; we regained our tempo.
“Eight players did not play in midweek and when you change for different competitions you are not as sharp as when you play every three days.”
Leroy Sane’s (pictured) goal just before half-time gave the home team the momentum and it went on to smash in four more against a Palace side which became the first side in English Football League history to lose their opening six games of the season without scoring.
United struggled at Southampton but Romelu Lukaku’s first-half goal was enough to ensure it stays second.
Alvaro Morata’s hat-trick helped Chelsea to keep pace with the leaders.
EPL scores: West Ham 2 Spurs 3, Southampton 0 Man Utd 1, Man City 5 Crystal Palace 0, Everton 2 Bournemouth 1, Burnley 0 Huddersfield 0, Leicester 2 Liverpool 3, Stoke 0 Chelsea 4, Swansea 1 Watford 2