The Sunday games in the Premier League were all about the Premier League title. Top-top Manchester City and Liverpool both once again recorded victories to continue the fight to become English champions next month.
Sterling brace clips the Eagles wings
Manchester City recorded a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace, with Raheem Sterling grabbing a brace to send the Citizens temporarily to the top of the table.
The Citizens should have taken the lead on 10 minutes, as Sterling dragged an effort wide of goal. The winger found the target on 15 minutes, though, latching on a superb through ball from Kevin De Bruyne before beating Vicente Guaita. City continued to control the game with Sergio Aguero fired wide of goal. Guaita also produced good saves from Leroy Sane and De Bruyne.
Pep Guardiola’s side doubled their lead just after the hour mark, Sterling scoring from ten yards out after good play from Sane. Just when it looked like City were cruising to victory, Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic fired home a low free-kick from the edge of the City area. Citizens goalkeeper Ederson arguably should have done better with the effort.
With it looking set to be a tense finish for the visitors, substitute Gabriel Jesus sealed the victory on 90 minutes through a quick break.
The victory temporarily moved the Citizens back to the top of the Premier League table. Pep Guardiola’s team are favourites to win the title this season.
Liverpool return to the top with a win over Chelsea
In the late game of the day, Liverpool recorded a 2-0 home win over Chelsea at Anfield. Both goals came in the second half.
The home side dominated the opening period but failed to find a breakthrough. On six minutes, Mohamed Salah saw a volley from a Sadio Mane cross saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga. Salah went down theatrically in the penalty area on 14 minutes after a challenge by David Luiz. Replays showed the Egyptian threw himself to the floor.
In one of Chelsea’s rare first-half attacks, Eden Hazard saw a low effort on goal easily saved By Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Luiz blocked a Jordan Henderson effort on 26 minutes before Willian fired well wide of goal from the edge of the area for the visitors.
Mane missed the target from 18 yards out after Salah had cut the ball back to the Senegalese international. The side took the lead six minutes into the second period. Jordan Henderson drove forward and crossed the ball to the far post for Mane, whose powerful header beat Kepa.
Two minutes later and the Reds doubled their lead. Salah picked up a superb long ball from Virgil van Dijk before cutting in from the right and smashing a powerful effort into the top left corner of Kepa’s goal.
Chelsea came close to getting back into the match on the hour mark, with two good chances falling for Hazard. The Belgium international fired an effort against the post when put through on goal. The forward then saw a low effort on goal saved by Alisson.
Aside from Hazard’s efforts, the Merseysider’s were relatively comfortable and secured the victory that saw them move back above Manchester City by two points.
Does either team have an advantage in the race for the title?
