Man City maintain healthy lead with 3-1 win
A Sergio Aguero hat-trick fired Manchester City to a 3-1 win against Newcastle and ensured the English Premier League leaders maintained their 12-point buffer at the top of the standings.
Earlier yesterday, neighbours Manchester United beat Burnley 1-0 to cut their lead to nine points, but City replied by cruising past the Magpies at home to solidify their position.
City have 65 points from their 24 games, having won 21, drawn two and lost just one match all season.
They also boast an impressive +52 goal differential.
Aguero found the back of the net in the 34th minute to open his account, before the Argentinian scored from the spot to double his team’s lead in the 63rd minute.
The visitors pulled one back through Jacob Murphy four minutes later, but Aguero iced the game seven minutes from time.
In the day’s earlier action, a superbly taken 54th minute goal from Anthony Martial gave Manchester United their hard-earned 1-0 win over Burnley.
United, looking to finalise the transfer of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, failed to get a shot on target during the first half, but went ahead on 54 minutes when Martial was set up by Romelu Lukaku.
Burnley almost equalised straight away as a curling free-kick from Johann Berg Gudmundsson hit the top of the crossbar, but that was as close as they got, as United secured three vital points.
Striker Sanchez was left out of Arsenal’s squad for their 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace and United coach Jose Mourinho said: ‘‘If you ask me if I think he is coming, I think so, but I have no confirmation.’’
Arsenal’s win moved them to within two points of arch-rivals Tottenham (who visit Southampton today).
The hosts, who could see Henrikh Mkhitaryan move the other way from United, were four goals up inside the opening quarter, with Nacho Monreal, Alex Iwobi, Laurent Koscielny and Alexandre Lacazette all hitting the target.
Luka Milivojevic struck a consolation but Arsene Wenger’s side won their first match of 2018, while Palace boss Roy Hodgson’s afternoon was made worse as key midfielder Yohan Cabaye was stretchered off in the closing stages
Champions Chelsea overpowered Brighton 4-0 in the early game but stay third after being overhauled following Manchester United’s later win.
Strikes from Eden Hazard (2), Willian and Victor Moses left Brighton – whose Socceroos goalkeeper Mathew Ryan had no chance with any of the Blues efforts – without a league win in five matches.
Hazard, who scored his 100th and 101st career league goals, told Sky Sports: ‘‘We started the game very well. We need to do more like this week after week.’’
Paul Lambert enjoyed the perfect start as Stoke City boss as his new side brushed aside Australian international Aaron Mooy’s Huddersfield 2-0 to move out of the bottom three.
Everton midfielder James McCarthy suffered a double leg fracture during the 1-1 home draw against West Brom.
‘‘It’s a tibula and fibula fracture compounded. A very nasty injury,’’ confirmed Everton boss Sam Allardyce.
West Brom went ahead through Jay Rodriguez but the hosts were level on 69 minutes through substitute Oumar Niasse, set up by Theo Walcott, making his debut after a transfer from Arsenal.
Meanwhile, All Whites captain Winston Reid didn’t feature in West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, which saw Hammers striker Javier Hernandez net his first goal since October.
Bournemouth took the lead against the run of play through Ryan Fraser but the Hammers equalised immediately, as substitute Hernandez – linked with a January transfer out of the club – pounced.
Jamie Vardy’s penalty and an injury-time goal from Riyad Mahrez gave Leicester a 2-0 win over Watford.
In the other completed game, Stoke City beat Huddersfield 2-0.