Sterling keeps Man City on top
London, Sept. 23: Raheem Sterling shone for Manchester City and Romelu Lukaku delivered for Manchester United as the Manchester clubs maintained a tight grip on the Premier League title race with Saturday victories.
Sterling scored a brace as City crushed bottom club Crystal Palace 5-0 and are top on goal difference above United, who won 1-0 at Southampton courtesy of Lukaku’s first-half goal.
Champions Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur kept pace with the top two.
Palace have now lost their first six games of the season after crashing to a heavy defeat in Roy Hodgson’s second league game as manager.
Pep Guardiola’s side went in front shortly before half-time when Leroy Sane converted after a one-two with David Silva.
Sterling’s quick-fire double took the game beyond Palace, the England forward tapping in passes from Sane and Sergio Aguero in the 51st and 59th minutes.
United had a rather less straightforward afternoon at Southampton, but they prevailed thanks to Lukaku’s sixth goal of the campaign.
MORATA TREBLE
United manager Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands in stoppage time after encroaching onto the pitch.
Chelsea remain three points off the pace in third place after Alvaro Morata scored a hattrick in a 4-0 win at Stoke City. The Spain striker struck three times at the bet365 Stadium, opening the scoring in the second minute, with Pedro also on target.
Harry Kane took his tally to six goals in four games as Tottenham Hotspur won 3-2 at West Ham United to claim a third successive away win.
Second-half substitute Oumar Niasse netted twice as Everton snapped a run of three successive defeats by coming from behind to win 2-1 at home to Bournemouth, who had gone ahead through Josh King.