United slip at Huddersfield lets City clear at top

ManchesterUnited fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at promoted Huddersfield Townyesterday as Pep Guardiola’s free-scoring Manchester City moved fivepoints clear at the Premier League summit.Aaron Mooy and LaurentDepoitre scored at the John Smith’s Stadium to give Huddersfield a firstwin over United since 1952 and condemn Jose Mourinho’s side to theirfirst loss of the campaign.“They have done it because of the attitude we have shown, the fighting spirit,” said Huddersfield’s German manager David Wagner.“It’s a big, big day for everyone in Huddersfield.”Citytook full advantage of United’s slip by beating Burnley 3-0, withSergio Aguero equalling Eric Brook’s all-time club scoring record of 177goals.Defending champions Chelsea closed to within four points ofsecond-place United by beating Watford 4-2, while Tottenham Hotspur candraw level with Mourinho’s men if they beat Liverpool on Sunday.United’sdefeat in rain-lashed Huddersfield followed their 0-0 draw at Liverpoollast weekend and a laboured 1-0 victory away to Benfica in theChampions League in mid-week.“The team that wanted it more won,” Mourinho said.“Iwas surprised by our performance. I was not expecting that. The teamthat played the game of their lives was the team that won.”Thingsstarted to go wrong for United in the 23rd minute when Phil Jones wasforced off by an apparent hip injury, with Victor Lindelof taking hisplace.Huddersfield went ahead five minutes later when AustralianMooy, a former City player, robbed Juan Mata and followed in to scoreafter David de Gea had saved from Tom Ince.Lindelof was at fault asDepoitre scored in the 33rd minute, failing to cut out goalkeeper JonasLossl’s kick, which allowed Depoitre to round De Gea and score.Unitedsubstitute Marcus Rashford headed in Romelu Lukaku’s cross with 12minutes remaining, but Huddersfield held firm for a famous win.Cityhave won their last 11 games in all competitions, equalling the clubrecord, and have scored 20 goals in their last four home games.Argentinastriker Aguero netted from the spot on the half hour after Burnleygoalkeeper Nick Pope was contentiously adjudged to have fouled BernardoSilva.Batshuayi lifts ChelseaSecond-half goals from Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane completed victory.“I’m so happy to continue our winning mentality,” said Guardiola.“Of course it is not easy to win 11 in a row, so it’s good.”MichyBatshuayi came off the bench to inspire Chelsea to a 4-2 home win overWatford that lifted some of the pressure on manager Antonio Conte.Beatenin their two previous league games, Chelsea took an 12th-minute leadwhen Pedro curled a magnificent effort into the top-left corner.Goals either side of the interval from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Roberto Pereyra put Marco Silva’s hard-working visitors in front.ButBatshuayi headed in a 71st-minute equaliser from Pedro’s cross andafter Cesar Azpilicueta put Chelsea in front late on, Batshuayicompleted victory in stoppage time.“The performance was a goodperformance because to concede the equaliser at the end of the first andthen go down in the first part of the second half, our confidence inthat moment was low,” said Conte.“But my players showed me that wehave the attitude to fight and change the situation and get a differentresult. It was very important.”Leicester City began life after Craig Shakespeare with a 2-1 win at Swansea City.Caretakermanager Michael Appleton saw Leicester go 2-0 up through a FedericoFernandez own goal and a Shinji Okazaki effort before Alfie Mawsonreplied for Swansea.Junior Stanislas teed up Andrew Surman andscored a penalty to give Bournemouth a 2-1 victory at Stoke City, whoreduced the deficit through Mame Biram Diouf.Mikel Merino’s lateheader earned Newcastle United a 1-0 home win over bottom club CrystalPalace, who stunned Chelsea 2-1 last weekend.RESULTS* Chelsea 4 (Pedro 12, Batshuayi 71, 90+5, Azpilicueta 87) Watford 2 (Doucoure 45+2, Pereyra 49)* Huddersfield 2 (Mooy 28, Depoitre 33) Manchester United 1 (Rashford 78)* Manchester City 3 (Aguero 30-pen, Otamendi 73, Sane 75) Burnley 0* Newcastle 1 (Merino 86) Crystal Palace 0* Stoke 1 (Diouf 63) Bournemouth 2 (Surman 16, Stanislas 18-pen)* Swansea 1 (Mawson 56) Leicester 2 (Fernandez 25-og, Okazaki 49)* Southampton 1 (Boufal 85) West Brom 0