The two games Premier League games on Sunday could have big ramifications to both the top and both of the Premier League table. Here is what happened in those potentially crucial clashes:
City cruise to routine win at Huddersfield
Reigning champions Manchester City recorded a routine 3-0 win at bottom of the table Huddersfield to reduce the gap on Liverpool back to four points.
City controlled the first period but were nowhere near their best. However, the Citizens did manage to take the lead against managerless Town on 18 minutes. Full-back Danilo cut in from the left and hit a long-range effort took a massive deflection off Christopher Schindler’s leaving the toothless Terriers goalkeeper Jonas Lossl helpless.
The home side threatened in sporadic periods, but never really looked like equalising. The visitors killed the game off in the space of the first 11 minutes of the second period. Raheem Sterling produced a diving header at the far post to finish a pinpoint cross from Leroy Sane.
Pep Guardiola’s side doubled their lead two minutes. Sergio Aguero cushioned a header into the path of Sane, who controlled it superbly with his first touch before finishing past Lossl. Town failed really to create much in front of goal, but substitute Steve Mounie rather summed up their attacking efforts in stoppage-time, as the striker swivelled to create space in the area only to fire wide of Ederson goal.
The victory kept City’s title hopes alive, although the reigning champions are still outsiders to retain their crown. Things are starting to look bleak for managerless Huddersfield, who are now ten points away from safety.
Harry rescues Spurs at Fulham
Tottenham needed a stoppage-time effort from midfielder Harry Winks to record a 2-1 win at struggling Fulham in the day’s late kick-off.
The home side actually made the better start, as Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris pulled off a superb save from a Ryan Babel effort before Denis Odoi completely miss-hit a shot when in a good position.
The Cottagers took the lead on 17 minutes, as Tottenham’s Spanish striker Fernando Llorente managed to put a Jean Michael-Seri corner kick past his own goalkeeper. It was not a great moment for the man tasked for filling the shoes of England striker Harry Kane on a temporary basis.
The Cottagers continued to attack, as Babel missed another good chance, while Lloris was alive to produce a sublime save from an Andre Schurrle volley before Aleksandar Mitrovic’s effort from the rebound was ruled out for offside. The home side could not make the most of their chances and were made to pay for their profligacy on 51 minutes. Christian Eriksen fired in a cross and Dele Alli headed home from close-range.
Spurs full-back Danny Rose smashed an effort against the bar, while Llorente also headed wide of goal from five yards out. Just as the game looked to be heading for a draw, Winks popped up to get on the end of substitute Georges-Kevin Nkoudou cross.
The victory means that Tottenham are five points behind second-place Manchester City, while they are four points ahead of fourth-place Chelsea in the race for a top-four spot.
Fulham remain 19th in the Premier League table, seven points off safety and in desperate need of a good run of form in the top-flight.
Can Fulham or Huddersfield still escape the relegation dogfight?
