City top as Iheanacho secures draw
Print Edition
MANCHESTER City returned to the top of the English Premier League on goal difference after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Southampton at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.
Pep Guardiola’s side, who began the season with 10 straight victories, has now gone five games without a win in all competitions, equalling the Spaniard’s worst run as a manager.
It could have been even worse for City after the hosts gifted Southampton the lead when a wayward pass from John Stones put Nathan Redmond in on goal after 27 minutes.
Moments later Stones thought he had atoned by bundling the ball into the net but his goal was disallowed for a Sergio Aguero offside. Guardiola reacted to the poor first half by replacing De Bruyne with Kelechi Iheanacho, who made an immediate impact by scoring from close range after Fernandinho found Leroy Sane with an exquisite crossfield pass.
Saints remained a threat on the break and Claudio Bravo saved well from Charlie Austin in the 74th while Aguero went close at the other end, where Raheem Sterling was a constant threat as City pushed for the elusive winner.
After Wednesday’s loss at Barcelona in the Champions League, City’s players needed to make a statement in response but they could not rouse themselves enough after the subdued first-half performance.
On Saturday, Arsene Wenger endured a bitter-sweet 67th birthday as Arsenal went temporarily top but missed a golden opportunity by only eking out a goalless draw with struggling Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium.
Liverpool was later just 10 minutes away from overhauling Arsenal but a late goal from West Bromwich Albion at Anfield meant that a 2-1 victory for Juergen Klopp’s men still could not stop the Londoners remaining at the summit on goal difference before City’s draw with the Saints put Pep’s men on top.
All three teams have 20 points, one better than Tottenham Hotspur, which was held 0-0 at Bournemouth in Saturday’s early match.
Spurs remain the only unbeaten Premier League team this season.
Chelsea was taking on Manchester United later yesterday in the highlight clash in the ninth round of EPL games.
Elsewhere on Saturday, it was: Watford 0, Swansea City 0; Stoke City 2, Hull City 0; West Ham United 1, Sunderland 0; Burnley 2, Everton 1; and Leicester City 3, Crystal Palace 1.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
