Mahrez miss denies City golden chance to pull ahead
BARKLEY CELEBRATES RECALL TO ENGLAND SQUAD WITH OPENING STRIKE
Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty — and Manchester City their chance of pulling ahead in the Premier League — as the champions could only draw 0-0 with Liverpool in a tightly contested game at Anfield yesterday.
With Chelsea making up ground by winning 3-0 at Southampton, the league’s three unbeaten teams go into the international break locked together on 20 points.
City are top on goal difference, with Chelsea second and Liverpool dropping to third, two points ahead of Arsenal, who routed Fulham 5-1 for their ninth successive win in all competitions.
Mahrez has now missed five of his past eight Premier League penalties — one for City and four for his previous club Leicester City — and seems highly unlikely to be given another chance after blasting the ball over the bar in the 86th minute.
City’s normal penalty taker, Sergio Aguero, had already been substituted when Virgil van Dyke clattered into Leroy Sane in what the defender later admitted was “not a smart move”.
Swift goal for Ramsey
Alexandre Lacazette and substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both scored twice, with Aaron Ramsey also netting just 39 seconds after coming on as a second-half replacement.
Ramsey started and finished one of the goals of the season, scoring with the sort of flick that even Johan Cruyff would have approved of.
The Welshman also provided a delightful chipped pass for Aubameyang to run to for Arsenal’s fifth goal, underlining what a big loss he will be if, as expected, he leaves at the end of the season.
“For me it was very important for (Ramsey) to take confidence and take that first goal,” said Emery.
“He did not start in the first 11 today but when he was on he scored within a minute and that gives confidence for both him and us.” Fulham, who equalised through Andre Schurrle, have the worst defensive record in the ■ Premier League and have now conceded 21 goals this season. They remain on five points, one place above the relegation zone. Their west London neighbours Chelsea have made an altogether more impressive start to the season and remain undefeated with nine wins from 11 competitive games this season.
Ross Barkley scored his first goal for the club since joining from Everton, with Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata also netting.
Barkley’s goal came via his knee from a few metres out and completed a memorable few days ■ for the midfielder who has been recalled to the England squad for the forthcoming games against Croatia and Spain.
Hazard was once again at his imperious best to net his seventh league goal and remain this season’s top scorer.
The Belgian said he did not know if he had ever played better than this season. “I’m just playing good football because we are playing good football,” he said. “I want to keep doing it and keep everyone happy.”
Alexandre Lacazette and substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both scored twice, with Aaron Ramsey also netting.