Manchester City outclass United to lead again
Late equaliser from substitute Mkhitaryan spares Arsenal blushes
Manchester City opened up a 12-point gap on Manchester United just 12 games into the Premier League season and returned to the top of the table with a convincing 3-1 win in yesterday’s derby at the Etihad.
Early goals in each half from David Silva and Sergio Aguero put City in command and Ilkay Gundogan condemned United to a fourth league defeat of the season after Anthony Martial’s penalty had given the visitors hope.
City leapfrog Liverpool to move back two points clear at the top of the table, while United remain in eighth.
The English champions have now won 11 and drawn one of their last 12 games with the only blip in that run coming in a creditable 0-0 draw away to Liverpool ■ — one of only two fixtures they lost in the Premier League last season.
The other was at home to United when City spurned the chance to seal the title against their local rivals by blowing a 2-0 half-time lead to lose 3-2.
Chelsea missed a chance to keep pace with their title rivals as Everton held on for a 0-0 draw thanks to Jordan Pickford’s heroics yesterday.
Maurizio Sarri’s side laid siege to the Everton goal in the second half, but found Pickford unbeatable as the England keeper made a series of fine saves.
The stalemate at Stamford Bridge left Chelsea two points behind Liverpool, who beat Fulham earlier yesterday. 3 2 0 1 Man United Fulham Everton Wolves 1 0 0 1
Goals by Mo Salah and Xherdan Shaqiri took Liverpool from third place to the top of the Premier League for a couple of hours at least with a 2-0 victory over bottom club Fulham at Anfield yesterday.
A late equaliser from substitute Henrikh Mkhitaryan spared Arsenal’s blushes in a 1-1 draw against a well-organised and creative Wolverhampton Wanderers.