Liverpool, Gunners and City top the log
MR RELIABLE: Sergio Aguero, who has been linked with a move away from Manchester City after being dropped for a Champions League tie at Barcelona recently, underlined his value with clinical first-half goals at the Hawthorns LIVERPOOL earned a thrilling 4-2 victory at Crystal Palace yesterday in a dramatic contest featuring five first-half goals — including four headers from centre-backs — some dismal defending and delightful attacking from the visitors.
The victory, courtesy of goals from Emre Can, Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino, again demonstrated the enterprising strengths and defensive flaws in Juergen Klopp’s hugely entertaining outfit.
They went ahead twice in the opening half only to be pegged back twice by headed goals from James McArthur, Lovren being guilty of gifting him a goal with a sliced clearance and then scoring with a thumping header at the other end.
After Matip was given the freedom of Selhurst Park to head Liverpool in front just before halftime, a proper reward for their superiority after they had also hit the woodwork twice, Brazilian Firmino sealed the win with a delightfully dinked 71st-minute finish from Jordan Henderson’s ball.
The win pushed Liverpool back alongside Manchester City, who lead on goal difference, and second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, all three on 23 points. SERGIO Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan each scored twice as Manchester City crushed West Bromwich Albion 4-0 yesterday to reclaim first place in the Premier League from Arsenal.
Arsenal won at Sunderland but City’s win kept Pep Guardiola’s side top on goal difference as they ended a six-game winless run.
“When we lose there are always doubts,” said Guardiola. “It’s the first time I have not won in six games. Always you have doubts, [but] not over the principles.”
Guardiola, whose side host former club Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, made eight changes to his starting XI from Wednesday’s 1-0 League Cup defeat at Manchester United.
Aguero was among the players to return to City’s starting lineup at The Hawthorns and his first-half brace effectively settled the game.
He broke the deadlock in the 19th minute, slamming a shot between Ben Foster’s legs from Gundogan’s pass, and doubled his tally nine minutes later with a stunning shot from the edge of the box.
The goals ended Aguero’s six-game scoring drought and lifted his City tally to 149 — one more than club great Francis Lee.
Aguero teed up Gundogan for City’s third in the 79th minute and the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder sealed victory in the last minute of normal time.
“We need Sergio,” said Guardiola, who dropped the Argentina striker for City’s 4-0 defeat at Barcelona. “He is one of the best.” ARSENAL had earlier strolled to victory at bottom club Sunderland, who are now seven points from safety and without a win after 10 league games.
Arsenal won 4-1, with substitute Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez both scoring twice.
Sanchez put Arsenal in front in the 19th minute with a header from an Alex OxladeChamberlain cross.
Jermain Defoe equalised from the spot in the 65th minute after Petr Cech was booked for impeding Duncan Watmore.
But Giroud equalised six minutes later, volleying in a Kieran Gibbs cross with his first touch after coming on.
The France striker struck again five minutes later, a looping header from Mesut Ozil’s corner, and Sanchez completed the scoring two minutes after that with a neat close-range finish. JOSE Mourinho was sent to the stands at Old Trafford and Ander Herrera dismissed as Manchester United drew 0-0 with Burnley despite having 37 shots at goal.
United’s title hopes faded a little after their stalemate left them eight points off top spot in eighth place.
Former United goalkeeper Tom Heaton was Burnley’s saviour, producing stunning saves from Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
United also hit the woodwork in the second half through Juan Mata and Ibrahimovic.
Mourinho was sent to the stands at halftime, reportedly after complaining about referee Mark Clattenburg’s failure to award Matteo Darmian a penalty.
Mourinho was charged by the Football Association this week after talking about referee Anthony Taylor prior to United’s recent 0-0 draw at Liverpool. He has until Monday to respond to the charge and is due to face a disciplinary hearing.
Herrera was sent off in the 70th minute after being shown a second yellow card for sliding in on Dean Marney.
“I think the referee did fantastic work. I won’t say more than this,” United assistant Rui Faria, who faced the media instead of Mourinho, said sarcastically.
“The people in the stadium could feel that the players gave everything,” he added. “We fought until the last second. We have to keep working and things will happen.” TOTTENHAM were left three points off the pace in fourth place after drawing at home to Leicester, who climb one place to 11th.
Vincent Janssen gave Spurs the lead with a 44th-minute penalty, but Ahmed Musa equalised early in the second period, sliding in bravely to apply the finishing touch to Jamie Vardy’s cross. WATFORD stole above United into seventh place after edging Hull City 1-0 courtesy of a late Michael Dawson own goal. MIDDLESBROUGH pulled clear of the relegation places after beating Bournemouth 2-0 through a Gaston Ramirez solo goal and a Stewart Downing strike. —