STERLING SENDS CITY EIGHT POINTS CLEAR
LONDON: Manchester City moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League after Raheem Sterling’s late goal clinched a 2-1 win at Huddersfield Town, while Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal victory over Burnley on Sunday.
City have swept aside all comers this season, but they found themselves in the unusual position of trailing at half-time after Nicolas Otamendi’s own goal at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side quickly equalised through a Sergio Aguero penalty in the second half before Sterling’s lucky 84th-minute winner sealed their 11th successive league victory.
City’s gritty success reopened an eight-point advantage over secondplaced Manchester United, who had temporarily closed the gap with a 1-0 win against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
The leaders had controlled the first half yet found themselves behind in stoppage-time when a Tom Ince corner hit Otamendi on the shoulder and flashed into the net.
Guardiola’s men gave an impressive response to that shock setback as they equalised two minutes after the interval.
Sterling was fouled by Scott Malone and Aguero drilled in the spot-kick for his 11th goal of the season.
City pressed for a winner, with Leroy Sane hitting the bar and Fernandinho booked for diving in the penalty area after a challenge from Rajiv van La Parra.
They finally got the victory their dominance deserved late on, but the goal was fortunate in the extreme.
Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl blocked from City’s Gabriel Jesus inside the penalty area.
But the rebound hit Sterling and bounced over the line for his 12th goal of the season -- and his second winner this week after his decisive strike against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
At Turf Moor, Arsene Wenger’s side looked set for a frustrating draw as they entered stoppage-time, but they snatched the points when James Tarkowski was ruled to have pushed Aaron Ramsey.
Sanchez held his nerve to slot home the dramatic late penalty and moments later Arsenal were celebrating a 1-0 win that lifted them into fourth place in the Premier League.
“From outside it (the penalty) looked 100 percent. I don’t know why he pushed him in the back. I would like to see it again,” Wenger said.
MISERABLE EVERTON
Without Mesut Ozil, who was ruled out due to illness, Arsenal struggled to break down Burnley.
But Chile forward Sanchez stepped up to seal Arsenal’s second successive league win with his fourth club goal of the season.
At St Mary’s, Everton’s miserable season hit another low point as Southampton romped to a 4-1 win -- giving caretaker boss David Unsworth a fifth defeat in his seven matches in charge following Ronald Koeman’s sacking.