CITY’S COURT MARTIAL
Martial scores the winner for United in derby marred by alleged racism
London, Dec. 8: Manchester United delivered a potentially fatal blow to Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes on Saturday after leaders Liverpool secured the Christmas number one spot with victory against Bournemouth.
Defending champions City came into the match at the Etihad Stadium knowing they had to win after Jurgen Klopp’s men coasted to a 3-0 victory on England’s south coast but they succumbed to United’s lightning-quick attacks, losing 2-1.
Earlier, Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham blitzed Burnley 5-0, with Son Heung-min scoring a sensational individual goal
City’s fourth league defeat of the season leaves them 14 points behind Liverpool, who have won 15 of their 16 league games. No side has ever gone on to win the title after being as many points behind the top side at the end of a day.
But the match was overshadowed by unsavoury incidents, with United midfielder Fred hit by objects thrown from the crowd and footage on social media appearing to show a City fan making monkey chants. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute and Anthony Martial doubled the visitors’ lead six minutes later. City came back strongly and eventually their pressure paid off, with Nicolas Otamendi’s late header sparking a frantic wave of City attacks but they failed to find an equaliser and United moved up to fifth in the table.
VARDY FIRES FOXES TO
CLUB RECORD WIN
Leicester closed the gap on Premier League leaders
Liverpool as Jamie Vardy extended his red-hot streak with a brace in Sunday’s record-breaking 4-1 rout of Aston Villa.
Brendan Rodgers’ secondplaced side moved within eight points of Liverpool thanks to goals from Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho and Jonny Evans at Villa Park.
Jack Grealish had reduced the deficit to 2-1 late in the first half, but Leicester cruised to an eighth consecutive topflight victory, setting a new club record that smashed the previous best from the 1962-63 season.
Vardy has now scored in eight consecutive Premier League appearances and is the competition’s top-scorer with 16 goals this term.