 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Images from the EPL matches played on Saturday
Manchester City overcame a spirited Bournemouth side 3-1 on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten streak and extend their lead at the top of the English Premier League to five points.
Crystal Palace beat Burnley 2-0 to end a run of eight matches without a win and there were victories for Leicester City, West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Manchester City were without the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez at the Etihad but took the lead against Bournemouth after 16 minutes when Bernardo Silva fired in.
The visitors went into halftime level, however, thanks to a header from in-form England striker Callum Wilson.
Their hopes of producing a stunning upset were dashed as the champions struck back through Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Guendogan and City moved clear of second-placed Liverpool ahead of their derby match against Everton on Sunday.
Huddersfield Town looked set to continue their recent upturn in form by scoring after 58 seconds at home to Brighton, Mathias Jorgensen heading in the fastest goal of the Premier League season.
However, the hosts were reduced to 10 men after half an hour when Steve Mounie was sent off for a high challenge and Brighton took full advantage with goals by Shane Duffy and Florin Andone.
Palace leapt above Huddersfield in the standings by beating Burnley at Selhurst Park to lift the pressure on manager Roy Hodgson.
Strikes in each half from James McArthur and Andros Townsend were Palace's first goals from open play at home all season. Burnley remained in the relegation zone having slipped down to 18th after Cardiff City's 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.
Leicester recorded their first home win in the league since September with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Watford.
Jamie Vardy opened the scoring with a penalty after 12 minutes before James Maddison netted a brilliant volley to move Leicester up to seventh.
Lukaku scores as lacklustre United rescue draw at Southampton
Manchester United came from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw at Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday as Jose Mourinho's side fell 16 points behind leaders Manchester City after 14 games.
United wasted a glorious early opening and were punished for their profligacy when Stuart Armstrong scored his third goal in a week to put Southampton ahead in the 13th minute, capitalising on suspect defending from the visitors.
A makeshift United defence, including young midfielder Scott McTominay, continued to look vulnerable and soon enough it was two, with Cedric Soares curling a sublime free kick into the net with 20 minutes on the clock.
No Premier League side has dropped more points from winning positions than Southampton this season, though, and United were back in it in the 33rd minute through Romelu Lukaku, who ended a run of 12 games without a goal for United in all competitions.
Six minutes later and Southampton were breached once again as Ander Herrera drew United level with a fine finish.
David de Gea was forced into a smart late save to preserve a point for United, who are now six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea having played a game more, while Southampton stayed in the bottom three and remained winless at home.
Hernandez double helps West Ham to 3-0 win at Newcastle
Striker Javier Hernandez made the most of a rare start for West Ham United by scoring two clinical goals which helped the east London side to a 3-0 Premier League win at Newcastle United on Saturday.
The result, wrapped up with a late goal from Felipe Anderson, lifted West Ham to 13th place on 15 points from 14 games and ended Newcastle's three-match winning streak as the Magpies, who have 12 points, slipped to 14th.
Hernandez stressed hard work to break into West Ham's starting line-up had finally paid off.
"I know I am doing well on the training ground," he told Sky Sports.
"I have been patient. In this world when you have confidence it is easier to perform like I did today.
"We wanted to come here and get three points and the important thing is that we scored first. We scored three and could have got more."
West Ham's fast breaks had toothless Newcastle reeling all afternoon and livewire Mexico international Hernandez fired them ahead in the 11th minute with a sweeping close-range finish after a fine cross by Robert Snodgrass.
Hernandez and strike partner Marko Arnautovic continued to torment their markers after the break and the Mexican missed two gilt-edged chances before they combined to devastating effect for the second goal in the 63rd minute.
Arnautovic superbly headed down a lofted West Ham clearance into Hernandez's stride and the 30-year old made no mistake as he drove the ball past Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka inside the near post.
Newcastle threw men forward in the closing stages but failed to create any chances and were caught cold again in stoppage time when Brazilian Anderson found time and space in the penalty area to bury his shot through Dubravka's legs.
