Raheem Sterling shone for Manchester City and Romelu Lukaku delivered for Manchester United as the Manchester clubs maintained a tight grip on the Premier League title race with Saturday victories.
Sterling scored a brace as City crushed bottom club Crystal Palace 5-0 and are top on goal difference above United, who won 1-0 at Southampton courtesy of Lukaku’s first-half goal.
Richarlison’s 89th-minute strike saw Watford snatch a 2-1 win at Swansea City, who looked set for a first home point after half-time substitute Tammy Abraham cancelled out Andre Gray’s 13th-minute opener.
There was little to write home about at Turf Moor as Burnley and Huddersfield Town played out a goalless draw.
Palace have now lost their first six games of the season after crashing to a heavy defeat at the Etihad Stadium in Roy Hodgson’s second league game as manager.
Pep Guardiola’s side went in front shortly before half-time when Leroy Sane converted after a one-two with David Silva. Sterling’s quick-fire double took the game beyond Palace, the England forward tapping in passes from Sane and Sergio Aguero in the 51st and 59th minutes.
Aguero made it 4-0, heading in Sane’s cross to close to within one goal of Eric Brook’s all-time City record of 177 goals, before Fabian Delph curled in a fine fifth.
City have scored 16 goals in their last three league games, having previously trounced Liverpool 5-0 and won 6-0 at Watford. United had a rather less straightforward afternoon at Southampton, but they prevailed thanks to Lukaku’s sixth goal of the campaign.
The Belgium international struck in the 20th minute, scoring at the second attempt after his header from Ashley Young’s in-swinging cross was saved by Fraser Forster. United manager Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands in stoppage time after encroaching onto the pitch.
Brief scores:
- Manchester City 5 (Sane 44, Sterling 51, 59, Augero 79, Delph 89) beat Crystal Palace 0
- Southampton 0 lost to Manchester United 1 (Lukaku 20)
