Man City dazzle in march to top, United game a yawn
MANCHESTER City opened up a twopoint heights of fourth on 15 points. The lead over neighbours Manchester shock defeats left fifth-placed Chelsea United at the top of the English Premier and Arsenal both nine points behind League thanks to another display leaders City, whose brand of kaleidoscopic of scintillating football brilliance in a football makes them favourites 7-2 thrashing of Stoke City at the Etihad to clinch the title they last won in 2014. Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Gabriel Jesus, with a brace, Raheem
After an earlier showdown between Sterling, David Silva, Fernandinho, Liverpool and a Manchester United Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva all side lacking in any ambition ended in a found the target in the demolition of goalless stalemate at Anfield, Manchester Stoke, with City now looking like a City cashed in with a third straight proper Guardiola creation. league match at the Etihad in which The orchestrator of the exhilarating they have struck at least five goals. triumph did not even get on the scoresheet,
Pep Guardiola’s men became the but not for the first time this season first team to net 29 goals in their first Belgian Kevin de Bruyne was eight league games of a top-flight campaign hailed the man of the match, for his in England since Everton 1894-95, part in four of the goals. as some of their main title “We didn’t lose easy
STANDINGS challengers faltered. balls and played fast and
Their sixth consecutive simple. That’s why I am league win moved pleased,” Guardiola said. them to 22 points, with “It is the best performance United on 20 and Tottenham since I’ve been Hotspur staying here. He [De Bruyne] is third on 17 – after finally one of the best by far, he earning their first home is someone who produces win at Wembley Stadium, a lot of actions. He 1-0 over Bournemouth is dynamic.” with a goal by City’s dazzle was in Christian Eriksen. stark contrast to their
The sensation of the neighbours’ safety-first day came at Selhurst approach at Anfield. Park, where Crystal The only Manchester Palace – hitherto without United highlight was a a goal and point to great save by David de their name – downed Gea to deny Joel Matip. champions Chelsea 2-1. Liverpool, despite being
Wilfried Zaha, returning from injury, much the better side, were blunt in scored a fine winner for Crystal Palace attack, failing to convert any of 19 attempts just before the break. on goal.
New manager Roy Hodgson celebrated “Manchester United came here for a his first win in charge as Palace finally point and got it,” Liverpool manager got on the scoresheet – a Cesar Jurgen Klopp said with a sigh. Azpilicueta own goal had given them Chris Wood earned an 85th-minute an early lead before Tiemoue Bakayoko equaliser for Burnley in a 1-1 draw at equalised – after 731 minutes without a home to 10-man West Ham United. league goal. Swansea City forged clear of the relegation
Arsenal were surprisingly toppled zone with only their second too, as Watford came from behind to league win of the season, a 2-0 victory snatch a 2-1 win with a 71st-minute over Huddersfield Town. penalty from Troy Deeney and a stoppage-time Yesterday’s results: Brighton 1 Everton strike from Tom Cleverley, 1, Southampton 2 Newcastle 2. – which lifted the Hornets to the giddy Reuters