Tottenham Hotspur absolutely battered league leaders Manchester City at White Hart Lane, coming from behind to record a comprehensive 4-1 win. Manchester United scaled the summit of the Premier League table for the first time in over two years, following an easy 3-0 victory over rock-bottom club Sunderland. Lionel Messi faces seven to eight weeks on the sidelines, after tearing a ligament in his left knee during Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Las Palmas.
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Manchester City lost their second league game in succession, as Tottenham capitalized on a couple of refereeing errors to send City to second place in the standings. Kevin De Bruyne scored his third goal in as many matches, with a clinical finish from the right-flank, although later replays showed he was marginally offside. City were expected to run away with the game, White Hart Lane being one of Sergio Aguero’s most favoured grounds, but were in for a shock when Eric Dier saw his seemingly harmless effort from 25-yards go in past deputy-goalkeeper Willy Caballero. TV replays showed that Kyle Walker was almost 3-yards off, before he sent his cross into the box, which was headed clear to the path of Dier, who scored the equaliser, just before the half-time whistle.
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Tottenham rode on Dier’s goal to mount an attack on the visibly rattled City defence, and took the lead when ‘keeper Willy Caballero was caught in no-man’s land attempting to punch a free-kick away, as Toby Alderweireld headed into an empty net. Harry Kane, last season’s surprise package, ended his 748 minute goal-drought with a finish on the half-volley, after Christian Eriksen’s stinging free-kick struck the crossbar and fell into the path of the Englishman, although he was slightly offside when he made contact with the ball. Erik Lamela, who has endured a frustrating time in London, since joining from AS Roma, capped off a man-of-the-match performance with a goal late-on, to scatter all hopes of a City comeback.
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Manchester United dismissed a lackluster yet resilient Sunderland outfit at Old Trafford, although the Red Devils weren’t particularly exciting in their 3-0 win. Languishing at 20th place in the table, Sunderland came into the game in search of a goalless draw and were close to achieving that target in the first-half, before Daley Blind’s exquisite pass over the Black Cats’ defence in the dying moments of added-time found Juan Mata, who square passed the ball to Memphis Depay for an easy tap-in. The Dutchman’s goal on the brink of the half-time whistle completely changed the mindset of the United players, as they doubled their lead 40 seconds after the break. Anthony Martial muscled his way past the Sunderland defenders and sent in a threatening cross from close-range, as Wayne Rooney awkwardly bundled it home to make it 2-0, subsequently ending his Premier League barren spell, which stretched to 1,000 minutes. Juan Mata killed the game of in the 90th minute, when he superbly controlled an Ashley Young cross and smashed his shot into the roof of the net to ensure that Sunderland remain rock-bottom in the league.
Barcelona survived a scare against newly-promoted side Las Palmas but Luis Enrique’s main cause of concern will the injury to Lionel Messi, who was taken off just three minutes into the game. The Argentine may miss eight fixtures but could return in the El Clasico on 22nd November. In the absence of Messi, Luis Suarez scored twice while Neymar missed a penalty. Suarez rose magnificently to head in Sergi Roberto’s cross in the 25th minute and doubled his tally with a finish at the far post, after Sergio Busquets’ dummy. Las Palmas frontman Jonathan Viera reduced the deficit with a late strike but Barcelona held on to go briefly go to the top of the table. Meanwhile, their fierce rivals Real Madrid were held by in a stalemate 10-man Malaga, as Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score for the third successive game.
Brendan Rodgers has some breathing time, after his side recorded a 3-2 win over Aston Villa, although rumours of the sack haven’t vanished completely. James Milner opened the scoring in the first minute against his former club, before Daniel Sturridge hit a brace, scoring for the first time since March. Rudy Gestede reduced Liverpool’s lead to a solitary goal twice but Liverpool held on to win their first game since gameweek two.
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Arsenal hammered Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, although Jamie Vardy opened the scoring for the home side. Walcott equalised for the Gunners, before Alexis Sanchez scored his first Arsenal hat-trick, as Leicester suffered a loss for the first time this season. Vardy doubled his tally with a few minutes to go but Giroud netted late-on as the game finished 5-2 in Arsenal’s favour.
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Chelsea’s horrible start to the season continued, as the Blues had to come from 2 goals behind to win a point at St James’ Park. Ayoze Perez punished Kurt Zouma’s defensive lapse to put Newcastle in front and Georginio Wijnaldum extended his side’s lead with a thumping header in the second-half. Ramires reduced the deficit with a venomous shot from 25-yards, before Willian saw his free-kick from the left ghost straight into the back of the net. Jose Mourinho lambasted his players after the game as he quoted –
“I told the players at half-time that I have no time to ask them why they were so bad. I want to try to understand because I don’t accept it.
“I am not a magician. I tried my best for the team. At half-time I said I was sorry I only had three subs as I wanted to change six.”
Other Premier League results:
Southampton 3-1 Swansea
Stoke 2-1 Bournemouth
West Ham 2-2 Norwich
Tags: Barcelona Lionel Messi Manchester City Manchester United Messi injured Spurs
