Solskjaer off to a good startas rival City slip up
First time United scores five goals since Ferguson
Andros Townsend threw the title race wide open with the best goal of his career to defeat Manchester City and give Liverpool a four-point lead at the Premier League summit.
The winger struck a spectacular volley, with Jeffrey Schlupp and Luka Milivojevic also scoring, as Crystal Palace won 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium against a City side who had not dropped a point at home.
On a day where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer began his reign in charge of Manchester United with a 5-1 win over Cardiff – the first time United had scored five in the Premier League since the last game of Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure – the more long-lasting impact could be felt at the top of the table.
A second league defeat in three games for City ensures Liverpool, who won at Wolves on Friday night, are in charge at the top of the table, but manager Pep Guardiola vowed not to be diverted from his side’s aim of retaining the title.
“It’s complicated but we fight until the last second,” he said. “We are in December and we will try and recover and try and win games again. There are a lot of games to play. We have to recover mentally and recover our physicality.”
Guardiola omitted Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne from his starting 11, though the Belgian came on to score a consolation goal, but insisted: “I have few regrets. We just have to improve so these kinds of things don’t happen again. When you win, I am a genius, when you lose I am not good. I don’t know what would happen if Kevin or Sergio start.”
City’s problems were compounded by the loss of Fernandinho, who was injured in training on Friday, meaning John Stones had to operate in midfield.
Acting captain Fabian Delph, who set up Ilkay Gundogan’s opener, said: “Obviously the result is a setback. It’s hard to analyse and we will go back to the drawing board and look at it.”
In contrast, Townsend was ecstatic about his stunning goal. “It’s definitely the best goal of my career, against the best side I’ve ever played,” he said. “It sat up perfectly for me, I knew I couldn’t take a touch as City would have been on me and on the counter, and as soon as it left my foot I knew it had a good chance.”
Yet it undoubtedly advantaged Liverpool, with their fullback, Andrew Robertson, admitting Jürgen Klopp’s squad started the season believing that they could win the title. On Boxing Day they face Newcastle United and victory would mean they had dropped just six points in the first half of the season, putting them on course to potentially break Manchester City’s 100-point record set last season when they won the league.
“We believed we could fight for it from the start of the season,” Robertson said. “Whether or not we could be contenders you only find out at the end of the season. When someone has that ‘C’ next to their name on the Premier League table. Whether that’s us, Manchester City or Tottenham, whoever, that’s when it’s over.”
United are not challenging for the title but their season has been given a real lift as Solskjaer’s temporary spell in charge began in brilliant style with Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard (2) all scoring.
“That was just the start today,” Rashford told BT Sport. “He [Solskjaer] wants us to be positive on the ball, look for the gaps and play positive football. “We are going to get better at it but today was a good start.”
It was also a good day for Arsenal in the race for the Champions League places, as they beat Burnley 3-1, while Jamie Vardy’s goal was enough for Leicester to spring a shock on Chelsea with a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge that could potentially save Claude Puel’s job. However, Burnley manager Sean Dyche was furious, as he accused Arsenal’s players of diving and said his side should have been awarded a penalty.
“There were two dives,” Dyche said. “No one seems to want to do anything about diving in the game apart from me. I’m still amazed by it.”