Man City are back on top despite De Bruyne exit
MANCHESTER City moved back to the top of the Premier League but lost Kevin de Bruyne to injury in a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
De Bruyne has been beset by injury problems this season and concerns would have been heightened when he pulled up shortly before half-time under no pressure. His replacement Riyad Mahrez proved City’s saviour on the south coast as they moved two points clear of Liverpool ahead of Sunday afternoon’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Mahrez collected the ball on the right side of the area in the 55th minute before slicing a low drive beyond Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc, who arguably should have done better at his near post.
In a typically frenetic north London derby, Pierre-emerick Aubameyang’s last-minute penalty was saved as Arsenal settled for a 1-1 draw at Tottenham. Aaron Ramsey marked his final appearance in the fixture, ahead of his summer move to Juventus, with the opener as he ran clear, rounded Hugo Lloris and slotted home after 16 minutes.
Harry Kane bagged his seventh goal in nine games against the Gunners as he levelled from the penalty spot with a little more than a quarter of an hour to go but there was still time for late drama at Wembley. Aubameyang’s tame spotkick with the clock spilling over into time added-on was comfortably kept out by Lloris low to his right while, to compound Arsenal’s misery, Lucas Torreira then saw red for a rash foul on Danny Rose.
The stalemate saw Tottenham slip 10 points behind City while Arsenal were knocked out of the top four as a resurgent Manchester United came from a goal down to claim a 3-2 win over Southampton.
Brighton clinched their first league win of the year as they edged out rock-bottom Huddersfield 1-0 at the Amex Stadium, moving the Seagulls five points clear of the relegation zone. Burnley suffered their second defeat in a week as Phil Bardsley’s own goal plus efforts from Michy Batshuayi and Wilfried Zaha helped Crystal Palace clinch a 3-1 win at Turf Moor. Quickfire first-half strikes from Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez ushered Wolves to a 2-0 triumph over Cardiff at Molineux.