City boost top four bid with Palace demolition
Hull suffer major blow as Championship-bound Sunderland leave them hovering just two points above relegation zone
Manchester City improved their prospects of qualifying for the Champions League with a 5-0 demolition of Crystal Palace, while relegationthreatened Hull suffered a damaging 2-0 defeat against Sunderland yesterday.
Frustrated by damaging draws in their previous two games, City got back on track and climbed to third in the table after a stylish display inspired by David Silva’s return from injury at Eastlands.
Silva, out for a fortnight after suffering a blow to his knee during the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal, opened the scoring after two minutes.
Vincent Kompany doubled City’s lead in the 49th minute before Kevin De Bruyne’s long-range strike made it three 10 minutes later.
Raheem Sterling’s cool finish in the 82nd minute was followed by Nicolas Otamendi’s diving header in stoppage-time as City leapfrogged Liverpool on goal difference.
Four points clear of United
Pep Guardiola’s side also moved four points clear of fifth placed Manchester United as the battle to finish in the top four heats up. United, who travel to Arsenal, and Liverpool, who host Southampton, are both in action today.
Palace’s third successive defeat left them six points Stoke West Brom Sunderland Watford C.Palace 2 2 2 0 0 above the relegation zone and still not certain to stay up.
At the KCOM Stadium, already relegated Sunderland won for the first time in 11 games to leave fourth bottom Hull just two points above the relegation zone. Hull boss Marco Silva had been unbeaten in his previous 41 home league games, a record dating back to his time in charge of Portuguese side Estoril in 2014 and encompassing spells with Sporting Lisbon and Olympiakos.
Having taken 19 points from a possible 21 at home during his four months as Hull boss, it was a shock to the Portuguese coach when his side fell behind in the 69th minute.
John O’Shea flicked on a corner and Billy Jones launched into a diving header that flashed past Eldin Jakupovic. Abel Hernandez was denied an equaliser by Jordan Pickford’s superb save and Jermain Defoe steered in from an offside position to add to Hull’s misery two minutes into stoppage-time.
Bournemouth secured their top-flight status for another year after a 2-2 draw against Stoke at Dean Court.
Burnley were made to wait to confirm their survival after being held to a 2-2 draw by West Bromwich Albion at Turf Moor.