Here’s what happened in the Premier this weekend, in case you missed it…
READ ALL ABOUT IT
• Saturday’s roundup: Leicester hammers Man City, Liverpool slips up at home, Everton thrashes Stoke
• Vardy staying: Leicester re-signs Vardy through 2019
• Sunday’s roundup: Arsenal back on track, Chelsea draws Man United
WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS::
Leicester 3, Manchester City 1 || Aston Villa 2, Norwich City 0 || Liverpool 2, Sunderland 2 || Newcastle 1, West Brom 0 || Southampton 1, West Ham United 0 || Tottenham 1, Watford 0 || Swansea City 1, Crystal Palace 1 || Everton 3, Stoke City 0 || Bournemouth 0, Arsenal 2 || Chelsea 1, Manchester United 1
WHAT STOOD OUT
Leicester’s title march continues
Man City falls flat again
Pep Guardiola can’t arrive soon enough. That was the lasting impression following Manchester City’s dismal capitulation on Saturday. At home to Leicester City, this was a chance for the Blues to make a statement, affirm themselves as the title favourites and knock the Foxes off their perch. It required maximum effort. Instead, City looked flat in losing 3-1 to Leicester City, a score line that actually flattered the hosts. Leicester bossed this game from beginning to end, playing the Blues completely off the pitch thanks to outstanding performances by Robert Huth, Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.
Maybe Guardiola can reinvigorate this team this season, because Manuel Pellegrini can’t seem to get the best out of them. It’s astounding to think that a club with the resources that City has and a squad with such world-class talent (Aguero and Silva foremost among them) and depth at most positions has faltered so badly this season. Incredibly, the Blues have not beaten any side currently in the top six of Premier League, with four losses and six draws. Saturday’s defeat not only puts City adrift of Leicester—the Blues also dropped to fourth in the table, leapfrogged by Arsenal and surging Tottenham— but it further underlined just how big of a job Guardiola has in breathing new life into this team of over-paid underachievers.
Chelsea vs. Man United not marquee but it entertained
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BEST GOAL
BEST GAME
Up 2-0, Liverpool was in control against Sunderland. But the Black Cats fought back with two goals in the final eight minutes of regulation, including an 89th minute equalizer from Jermain Defoe. Great comeback by Sunderland.
BEST MOMENT
BEST SAVE
In the first half, Manchester United’s Anthony Martial cut in from the flank and unleashed a curling shot from just inside the box that appeared destined for the upper corner. But Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois did exceptionally well to tip Martial’s attempt around the far post.
BEST TWEET
BEST QUOTE
“I don’t believe the bookmakers. The bookmakers said at the beginning [I’d be] the first to be sacked.” – Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri
SIX PACK OF STATS
• With his goal on Saturday, Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez ended his Premier League scoring drought at 11 hours and two minutes.
• Jonjo Shelvey has as many assists (two) in four Premier League appearances for Newcastle United this season as he did in 16 appearances for Swansea City.
• Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored in five of his last six Premier League appearances for Swansea City.
• Southampton’s Victor Wanyama is the first player since Wes Brown in 2013-14 to be sent off three times in the same Premier League season.
• Norwich City is the only team yet to keep a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League this season.
• Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on Sunday scored his first ever Premier League goal away from home.
Stats courtesy of Opta
BURNING QUESTION
THREE STARS
1) Robert Huth: Scored a brace and put in a man-of-the-match performance in Leicester City’s convincing win away to Manchester City.
2) David de Gea: Brilliant in goal for Manchester United. Made a crucial save deep into injury time that allowed the Red Devils to earn a draw at Stamford Bridge.
3) Heurelho Gomes: Kept Watford in the game by making a number of unorthodox (albeit effective saves) in a losing effort against Tottenham.
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