Perfect City
City pull clear, debutant Slimani lifts Leicester with brace
Manchester City maintained their imperious start to the season with a fifth straight victory as Bournemouth were swept aside 4-0 to become the latest victims of Pep Guardiola’s table-toppers. Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Kelechi Iheanacho, Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan, on his Premier League debut, wrapped up the points after another scintillating display from the title favourites. Among the chasing pack, Arsenal made it three successive league wins for the first time since January when they eased past 10man Hull 4-1 with Alexis Sanchez scoring twice and missing a penalty.
LONDON: Kevin De Bruyn, Hareem Sterling and Elechi Anachoret shone as Manchester City crushed Bournemouth 4-0 to provisionally go five points clear in the English Premier League.
League debutant Ilkay Gundogan also found the net for Pep Guardiola’s City, who have made their best ever start to a season with eight consecutive wins in all competitions.
Debutant Islam Slimani scored twice as champions Leicester won 3-0 at home to Burnley and there were also wins for Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion.
“Our high pressing was not perfect today. We had problems with controlling the Bournemouth buildup, but we created a lot of counter-attacks,” said City manager Guardiola, who lost Nolito to a late red card.
“We are so lucky that we have Kevin De Bruyne with us. It was a fantastic performance.”
Guardiola made four changes to the team that had outclassed Borussian Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho coming in.
Jack Wilshire, on loan from Arsenal, made his first Bournemouth start, but it was to prove an afternoon to forget for the England international.
He gave away the free-kick that led to City’s 15th-minute opener, De Bruyne cleverly stroking the setpiece beneath the jumping wall and into the bottom corner.
The Belgian was involved in the hosts’ second goal 10 minutes later, moving Nolita’s pass on to Sterling, who unselfishly teed up Iheanacho – deputising for the suspended Sergio Aguero – to score.
Sterling added a third early in the second half, squeezing a shot over the line after Iheanacho had returned the favour, before De Bruyne set up Gundogan for City’s fourth.
The only disappointment for Guardiola was the late dismissal of Spanish forward Nolito for leaning his head into Adam Smith’s face.
Liverpool and Chelsea also trail City by five points following the Merseyside club’s impressive 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Friday.
Arsenal are on 10 points as well after Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez scored twice and squandered a penalty in a 4-1 success at Hull.
Sanchez claimed Arsenal’s first goal when Alex Iwobi’s shot flicked off him and into the net, only to then see his spot-kick saved by Eldin Pavkovic after Jake Livermore had been sent off for handball.
After Theo Walcott had chipped in to make it 2-0, Robert Snodgrass reduced the arrears with a 79th-minute penalty following a foul on Hull debutant Dieumerci Mbokani by visiting goalkeeper Petr Cech.
But Sanchez made the game safe four minutes later by lashing home after Pavkovic had saved from Walcott. Substitute Granit Xhaka added a stunning late goal from long range.
“I feel overall it was a positive performance after playing away in the Champions League and away again today,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side drew 1-1 at Paris St Germain on Tuesday.
“We started well, dominated and were fluent.”
Leicester are three points back in ninth place after Slimani put paid to Burnley at the King Power Stadium.
Algeria international Slimani was making his league debut transfer from Sporting Lisbon.
He scored a pair of headers either side of half-time, nodding in a Christian Fuchs free-kick in first-half stoppage time and then heading home from strike partner Jamie Vardy’s flick.
Ben Mee’s own goal from Riyad Mahrez’s cross completed the scoring in the 78th minute. — AFP