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Rediff.com  » Sports » EPL PIX: Man City surge on, United sink Spurs to stay second

EPL PIX: Man City surge on, United sink Spurs to stay second

Last updated on: October 29, 2017 00:02 IST
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Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday

Ferdinho

IMAGE: Manchester City’s Fernandinho, centre, celebrates. Photograph: Twitter.

Manchester City maintained their charge towards the Premier League title with a 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion as Manchester United kept within five points of their neighbours with a crucial 1-0 win over fellow contenders Tottenham Hotspur.

 

Goals from Leroy Sane, Fernandinho and Raheem Sterling moved the leaders on to 28 points -- equalling the best return after 10 matches of a Premier League season -- as irresistible City took their campaign’s tally of league goals to a remarkable 35.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City continue to look unstoppable at domestic level, having opened up in brilliant fashion with Sane scoring his sixth goal in seven league games after just 10 minutes.

Though Jay Rodriguez equalised quickly, City were in complete control once Fernandinho’s deflected effort put them ahead after 15 minutes.
Substitute Sterling scored his ninth of the season in all competitions four minutes after coming on in the second half with City’s only late moment of concern en route to a 13th straight win coming when careless defending from Nicolas Otamendi let in Matty Phillips for a consolation.

City’s 28 points equalled the tally accrued by Chelsea in 2005 and City themselves in 2011 -- and both those sides went on to win the title.

Anthony Martial

IMAGE: Manchester United's Anthony Martial celebrates scoring their first goal. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters

Substitute Anthony Martial's 81st minute strike gave Manchester United a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday to keep them in touch with Premier League leaders Manchester City.

After last week's surprise defeat at Huddersfield Town, Jose Mourinho's team could ill afford another slip-up and they had to battle hard against a resilient Spurs to take the points.

United move on to 23 points, two behind leaders City who are at West Bromwich Albion later on Saturday, while third-placed Spurs are on 20.

The impact from substitutes Jesse Lingard and French forward Martial proved decisive in the latter stages of a largely attritional battle in sweeping rain.

Tottenham, without their top scorer Harry Kane who was ruled out with a hamstring injury, played some tidy and progressive football in midfield.

But although South Korean winger Son Heung-min, playing in a central striking role, provided some intelligent movement and linked up well, the threatening presence of Kane, the league's top scorer with eight goals, was not surprisingly missed.

Spurs have now lost 21 of their 26 trips to Old Trafford in the Premier League era – their worst away record against any club in the division.

Marcus Rashford provided an early test for Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris with a low-struck 25-yard free-kick which the Frenchman was able to turn past the post.

Chances were rare, however, with Spurs not asking a question of United keeper David De Gea until a hooked volley from Eric Dier, from inside a crowded area, three minutes before the break.

United made an aggressive start to the second half and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Romelu Lukaku both forced Lloris into saves as Mourinho's side threw themselves forward.

Spurs though could have gone in front themselves in the 76th minute when Christian Eriksen threaded a superb ball towards Dele Alli but the England midfielder's left-footed effort from an awkward angle went the wrong side of the post. Had Alli chosen his right foot, and opened up more space for his shot, he may well have found the target.

Lingard's deep cross towards the back post was headed firmly - but against the post - by Lukaku and it was beginning to feel like it might not be United's day.

But then Mourinho's side grabbed the win and in the most basic of manners.

A long ball from De Gea was flicked on by Lukaku into the path of the on-running Martial and the Frenchman confidently slotted past Lloris.

Arsenal

IMAGE: Arsenal’s Sead Kolasinac. Photograph: Twitter.

Arsenal marched to within a point of Tottenham with Arsene Wenger left to celebrate a successful 800th Premier League match in charge as his side fought from one down to beat Swansea City 2-1 with second-half goals from Sead Kolasinac and Aaron Ramsey.

Liverpool

IMAGE: A lovely finish from Liverpool. Photograph: Twitter.

Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp got the better of his best friend, Huddersfield boss David Wagner, in a 3-0 win at Anfield where Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum scored in the second half to push the Reds to sixth on 16 points.

Watford’s giddy ascent, though, was checked with a 1-0 home defeat by struggling Stoke City -- Darren Fletcher hit the target in the 16th minute -- that drops them to seventh on 15.

At the other end of the table, Crystal Palace escaped with an astonishing 2-2 draw with West Ham United, coming back from two down and earning a draw in the seventh minute of stoppage time through Wilfried Zaha.

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Source: REUTERS
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