(Football news) Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City cemented their place at the top of the table after a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. A goal by Raheem Sterling, his 100th in the Premier League was enough for Pep Guardiola’s team to secure all three points in the fixture. Despite very little happening in the first half, the game livened up when Raul Jimenez saw a red card after two yellow cards in a space of 31 seconds, the first one was for a foul at the halfway mark and the second for attempting to block the subsequent freekick.
City got their only goal in the 66th minute after a penalty was awarded because Bernardo Silva’s cross hit Joao Moutinho's armpit. Both Jon Moss and the VAR decided that the ball hit enough of his arm to warrant a spot kick which was duly converted by Raheem Sterling who became the 32nd player and the eighth youngest at the age of 27 to score his 100th Premier League goal. With this result, Pep Guardiola’s team won their seventh consecutive game in the league while Wolves have failed to win or score in their last four matches.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal got back to winning ways after a 3-0 result at the Emirates Stadium against Southampton. The absence of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang due to a discipline breach did not deter the hosts who secured a comfortable three points. The Gunners opened the scoring in the 21st minute thanks to Alexandre Lacazette who led the side after Aubameyang’s absence. The hosts doubled their advantage six minutes later with Martin Odegaard scoring his third goal in three matches while Gabriel Magalhaes found the back of the net just after the hour mark. With this result, Arsenal remain within touching distance of the top four, just one point behind Manchester United and two points behind fourth place West Ham.
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A late winner by Jorginho sealed a dramatic victory for Chelsea who secured a 3-2 win over a spirited Leeds side at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have struggled defensively of late, having conceded six goals in their last two matches and the trend continued yet again as Raphinha scored from the penalty spot in the 28th minute to give the visitors a lead after Daniel James was fouled by Marcos Alonso. The Blues managed to get an equalizer through Mason Mount just before half-time when the 22 year old found the back of the net from Alonso’s cross. Almost at the hour mark, Jorginho put his side ahead after Raphinha’s challenge on Antonio Rudiger was given a foul by the VAR.
However, just seven minutes from time Leeds levelled the score 2-2 when Joe Gelhardt scored, just 81 seconds after coming off the bench to pile misery on Thomas Tuchel’s side. The European champions had the last laugh before the final whistle as Rudiger was fouled again inside the penalty area deep into injury time by Mateusz Klich and Jorginho once again scored from the spot to ensure Chelsea remain in the title race. With this result, Leeds United are in 15th place on the league table, level on points with Southampton but ahead on goal difference while Chelsea are third, one point behind Liverpool and two behind Manchester City.
Steven Gerrard returned to Anfield as his Aston Villa side took on Liverpool in the Premier League. A goal by Mohamed Salah from the spot was all it took for Jurgen Klopp’s team to secure all three points and remain in the title race and maintain pressure on City. Gerrard set up his Aston Villa side in a manner which would make them difficult to break down and largely succeeded for over an hour with the home side largely being restricted to half chances. However, as it has already happened so many times this season, it was Egyptian maestro Mohamed Salah who broke the deadlock after he was fouled in the box and converted from the spot in the 67th minute. Jurgen Klopp’s team could have scored a few more with Jota and Salah squandering a few opportunities but it was all smiles by the home supporters as Liverpool secured three points at the final whistle.
Ralf Rangnick named an unchanged line up from the team that started against Crystal Palace last week as Manchester United visited Carrow Road to face 20th place Norwich City. For many visiting supporters, the expectation was to see a rejuvenated Man Utd side take on a weak opposition and show their superiority with Rangnick’s coaching but it was far from a scintillating performance with the only opportunity coming from the first half when Alex Telles’ freekick hit the crossbar. It was the home side who dominated the second half as Przemyslaw Placheta, Teemu Pukki and Josh Sargent came close to scoring but De Gea pulled some truly magnificent saves throughout the course of the match to get his 200th clean sheet.
Ronaldo, who had already injured Norwich City’s captain Grant Hanley inflicted further damage on the home side by being awarded a penalty after being brought down by Max Aarons. The Portuguese superstar duly converted from the spot in the 75th minute to ensure Rangnick won his second successive Premier League game and became only the second manager to register two clean sheets in his first two games since Ernest Mangnall in 1903. With this result, the Red Devils are fifth in the Premier League, one point behind West Ham and one point ahead of Arsenal while Norwich City remain at the bottom of the Premier League.
