Saturday’s Premier League games produced a hatful of goals, as well as results that could have big implications at both ends of the Premier League table. Here are the big results of the day:
Saints punish lacklustre Spurs
Relegation-threatened Southampton recorded a 2-1 win over top-four Tottenham at St Mary’s to move out of the relegation zone.
Tottenham much the better of the first half. The visitors hit the Saint’s woodwork twice in the opening exchanges. Firstly, home defender Maya Yoshida slid a Harry Kane cross into the post before Christian Eriksen clipped the bar with a free-kick from just outside the area.
The visitors did finally take the lead on 26 minutes though. Dele Alli fed Kane at the far post and after taking a touch the striker fired a low effort past Angus Gunn in the home goal. Southampton were much improved in the second half. Winger Nathan Redmond looked dangerous, hitting the side-netting before firing an effort wide at the near post.
Spurs were punished for their profligacy in front of goal on 76 minutes. A superb team move saw Ryan Bertrand play in Stuart Armstrong, whose cross to the far post found young full-back, Yan Valery after Danny Rose had decided to leave the centre. Valery rather mis-hit the effort, but the finish beat Hugo Lloris in the visitor’s goal.
It got even better for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team with just nine minutes remaining on the clock. Kyle Walker-Peters cynically fouled Armstrong just outside the area and midfielder James Ward-Prowse curled home a sublime effort past Lloris.
The victory moved the team from the south coast up to 16th place in the table, two points clear of the relegation zone. Meanwhile, four-place Manchester United can move level on points with Tottenham if they win at Spurs local rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
Sterling grabs a hat-trick against Watford
England winger Raheem Sterling was the hero of the hour for Manchester City, as the former Liverpool star grabbed a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Watford in the late kick-off.
After a goalless first period, City opened the scoring just 40 seconds into the second period in controversial circumstances. Sergio Aguero played in Sterling, who was offside when he received the ball. The winger fired home.
The referee’s assistant flagged for offside, only for referee Paul Tierney to hold a long discussion with his colleague and then give the goal, as the ball had made contact with Watford’s Darryl Janmaat before finding Sterling.
Sterling scored his brace in rather less controversial fashion four minutes later, producing a simple finish from Riyad Mahrez’s pull-back. Sterling completed his hat-trick just before the hour mark.
He latched on to David Silva’s through ball, beat two tackles before firing beyond Ben Foster to complete what had been a memorable 15 minutes work for the England star. Watford scored a consolation goal on 66 minutes. Troy Deeney flicked the ball on to fellow substitute Gerard Deulofeu and the Spaniard fire home. The former Everton star had been on the pitch for less than 30 seconds.
The goal meant very little in terms of the result, though, as City recorded a comfortable win. The victory moves the Citizens four points clear of Liverpool, who host Burnley in Sunday’s early kick. Pep Guardiola’s side is now red-hot favourites to win the title.
Saturday’s other Premier League results
Crystal Palace 1-2 Brighton
Cardiff 2-0 West Ham
Huddersfield 0-2 Bournemouth
Leicester 3-1 Fulham
Newcastle 3-2 Everton
Who produced the result of the day in the Saturday’s Premier League matches?
