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Manchester City’s bid to put pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea suffered a setback as the champions slumped to a surprise 2-1 defeat at West Ham yesterday. |
Manuel Pellegrini’s team, who kicked off in second place, had hoped to close the gap on the Blues to two points ahead of their rivals’ clash with Manchester United today. But West Ham maintained their impressive recent form to stun the visitors, who were beaten in the league for the second time this season following their loss to Stoke in late August.
Morgan Amalfitano opened the scoring in the 21st minute and Diafra Sakho added the decisive second goal in the 75th minute. David Silva set up a tense finish when City’s Spanish forward scored a fine individual effort two minutes later, but fourth-placed Hammers held on for a fourth win in their last five matches.
Later, Southampton’s 1-0 win at home to Stoke saw the south coast club leapfrog City into second place. “We had a lot of chances to score but it is difficult to win if you don’t take them,” Pellegrini said.
“We have 80 points left to play for...We will continue fighting because there is no title being handed out at the moment.”
For West Ham this was their first win in 11 games against City having suffered a humiliating 9-0 aggregate loss over two legs in last season’s League Cup semi-final. “We are doing well at the moment and we wanted to continue that today,” said Hammers midfielder Alex Song. “The spirit is high and we are really enjoying it.”
Meanwhile Southampton’s stunning start to the season continued against Stoke. Fresh from last week’s 8-0 home thrashing of Sunderland—their record win in the English top flight—Ronald Koeman’s side scored only one goal at St Mary’s this match when Senegal winger Sadio Mane followed up in the 33rd minute after Graziano Pelle’s shot came back off the post.
It was a sixth win in nine Premier League matches this season for a Southampton side who saw £92 million ($148 million, 117 million euros) worth of talent in Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw, Calum Chambers and Rickie Lambert all leave for rival Premier League clubs in the last transfer window, with former manager Mauricio Pochettino joining Tottenham Hotspur.
Sunderland conceded just two goals yesterday but that was enough to ensure Arsenal won 2-0 at the Stadium of Light. Alexis Sanchez scored twice, both times seizing on defensive errors.
He put Arsenal ahead in the 30th minute following a poor back pass by Wes Brown and then latched on to a ‘gift’ clearance from former Gunners keeper Vito Mannone in the closing seconds.
Liverpool, fresh from their thumping 3-0 Champions League loss at home to holders Real Madrid in midweek, were held to a goalless draw by Hull at Anfield. Underfire Reds striker Mario Balotelli, who had a chance to score with the last kick of the game, was left with a return of just one goal in 11 appearances since his £16 million move from AC Milan.
Crystal Palace squandered a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw away to West Bromwich Albion. Brede Hangeland put Palace ahead in the 16th minute at the Hawthorns before Mile Jedinak doubled the London club’s lead with a penalty at the end of the first half after Yannick Bolasie was brought down in the box.
But the Baggies hit back in the 51st minute when half-time substitute Victor Anichebe headed in from a corner before Saido Berahino rescued a point in stoppage-time with a penalty after Jedinak fouled Anichebe.
Swansea were to play Leicester in late kick-off while today Chelsea will be looking to move six points in front at Old Trafford as Tottenham face Newcastle and Everton travel to strugglers Burnley.
