London: Just when the chasing pack thought the Manchester City juggernaut was suffering a misfire Raheem Sterling scored a stunning injury time winner to give the Premier League leaders a 2-1 victory over Southampton, Wednesday.
With Manchester United having cut the gap to five points and Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool winning, any City stutter would have been cause for celebration. But Pep Guardiola’s side thundered on with a club record 12th successive league victory.
Former Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu had cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne’s opener in the 75th minute but six minutes into added on time, Sterling, for the third match running, snatched City’s winner, this time with a sublime curling shot.
Manager Antonio Conte was sent to the stands after a verbal meltdown at Stamford Bridge as his Chelsea side laboured to a 1-0 defeat of struggling Swansea City at Stamford Bridge. Antonio Rudiger’s first Premier League goal sealed victory.
Arsenal struck three goals in four second half minutes as they thrashed Huddersfield Town 5-0 with Mesut Ozil scoring one and supplying assists for Olivier Giroud, who scored a brace, and Alexis Sanchez. Alexandre Lacazette’s early goal had separated the sides before the interval although the French striker went off with a suspected groin injury and will probably miss Saturday’s home clash against Manchester United. Arsenal with the victory, now have won 12 consecutive home matches.
Liverpool moved into fifth place with Mohamed Salah taking his tally for the season to a chart-topping 12 thanks to a double in a 3-0 victory at Stoke City.
After 14 games City have 40 points, with United on 32, Chelsea 29, Arsenal 28 and Liverpool 26.
Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick, the third with a wonder goal from inside his own half, as Everton thrashed West Ham United 4-0 on a horrible return to Goodison Park for David Moyes whose side remained in the bottom three.
Sam Allardyce, who will be named shortly as Everton’s new manager, watched on from the stands as caretaker boss David Unsworth signed off with a victory that lifted Everton to 13th.
Reuters