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Weekend recap: Liverpool slip up, City outclass Gunners, Man Utd edge past Leicester
After our article on how the London trio got on over the weekend, it’s time for a look at how Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United did.
After yesterday’s article on how the London trio of top six clubs got on over the weekend, it’s time for a look at how Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United did.
Liverpool
Liverpool wasted a golden opportunity to extend their lead after drawing 1-1 against West Ham at the London Stadium on Monday night. Sadio Mane put Liverpool into the lead after 22 minutes, but Michail Antonio equalised for the Irons just six minutes later. For Liverpool’s goal, James Milner was well offside down the right flank when he received the ball. The flag stayed down, and he played it into Mane, who turned and finished well. But their lead didn’t last long. A well-worked free-kick by West Ham saw Antonio get in around the back all too easily, and he finished superbly; holding off Naby Keita along the way.
Liverpool could have lost the game as West Ham had a couple of chances of their own: Mark Noble blazed over the bar on one occasion when he should have scored. But in the dying seconds of stoppage time, Divock Origi missed a great chance to win the game for the visitors. Again, it was clearly offside but the flag stayed down and the striker fluffed his chance.
The Reds remain at the top of the Premier League table: three points clear of Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola’s side can go top on goal difference with a win on Wednesday against Everton. What a difference a week makes. Liverpool would have been comfortably clear at the top of the table had they beaten Leicester last Wednesday and West Ham on Monday. But instead, they anxiously look over their shoulders.
Manchester City
Manchester City showed their class when they beat Arsenal 3-1 at the Etihad on Sunday. The Gunners held their own at times in the first half, but City showed that they’re streets ahead of Unai Emery’s side with a dominant second-half display. Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick: his 10th in the Premier League; only Alan Shearer has more, with 11.
Even though Man City lacked urgency for much of the first half, they carved Arsenal apart two minutes before half time with a wonderful team goal that Aguero converted. The Argentine added his third in a second half in which City didn’t concede as much as an attempt on goal. They were completely dominant.
The Premier League champions looked like they were close to conceding their crown less than a week ago when Liverpool had the chance to go seven points clear. But the Reds dropped points against Leicester and West Ham, and now Guardiola’s side have the chance to go back to the summit of the table with a win against Everton on Wednesday. They’re certainly beginning to put pressure on Liverpool and won’t give up their title without a fight.
Manchester United
Manchester United moved into fifth after a good win at Leicester on Sunday, where Marcus Rashford’s goal after just nine minutes proved decisive as the Red Devils held on to win the game 1-0. Paul Pogba played a brilliant lofted pass over the top to Rashford after the ball was gifted to him by Leicester’s Ricardo Pereira. Rashford took one impressive touch before smashing it past Kasper Schmeichel. The young Englishman missed a glorious chance with a header just minutes before, but he wasn’t going to miss a second opportunity.
United held on at times as Leicester put pressure on. Some good goalkeeping from David de Gea – as always – kept the Foxes out, but they weren’t great in front of goal and weren’t clinical enough. All-in-all, it was a hard-earned win for United.
They’ve now gone 10 games unbeaten since Ole Gunnar Solkjaer was appointed; winning nine. The gap to the top four has now been cut to just two points as they continue to put pressure on Chelsea and Arsenal. If they continue on this good run of form, they should finish in the Champions League qualification places. But they do have plenty of tough games coming up in the next couple of months. United, and Solskjaer, will really be tested.
This article was written by PremPlace. You can see their website by clicking here.
