EPL: Manchester rivalries rekindled today

First derby experience for both managers intensifies race for EPL points.

LONDON:

Manchester United and Manchester City approach today’s 166th city derby knowing defeat for either side would leave them in danger of being cut adrift in the Premier League title race.

Both sides have already squandered points in the new season — United drawing at home to Chelsea and losing at Liverpool, City drawing at Stoke City and going down at Cardiff City.

Both United manager David Moyes and his City counterpart Manuel Pellegrini will be experiencing the Manchester derby for the first time, but Moyes can at least draw on an impressive recent record against City.

Moyes can also draw solace from the fact that the trip to the Etihad Stadium marks the end of a fiendish opening run of fixtures that he complained about at the beginning of the campaign.



“We’ve had the hardest start of all the top clubs in the English Premier League this season, so we had to make sure after these games we had a decent points total,” said Moyes.

The teams go into today’s game level on points, but Pellegrini says he has not paid too much attention to United’s early-season form.

“It is not my duty to analyse how they [Man United] start,” said the Chilean. “It is a very good team and David Moyes is a very good manager. I think they have a lot of great players.”

Saints stun Liverpool, Baines spares Everton

Premier League leaders Liverpool crashed to their first defeat of the season at home to Southampton yesterday, while Everton enjoyed a stirring 3-2 win at West Ham United.

Liverpool were without Philippe Coutinho, sidelined by a shoulder problem, but they came close to taking the lead in the first half at Anfield when visiting goalkeeper Artur Boruc produced a full-stretch save to keep out a Steven Gerrard free-kick.



Daniel Sturridge then had a penalty appeal turned down after tangling with Dejan Lovren, and it was Lovren who broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute with a back-post header from a left-wing corner.

Only a fine triple save from Simon Mignolet prevented Southampton from adding to their lead, but Lovren’s goal proved enough to inflict a first league defeat on Liverpool.

Earlier, Aston Villa beat Norwich City 1-0, courtesy of a penalty save by goalkeeper Brad Guzan and a 30th minute goal from substitute Libor Kozak, just seconds after he replaced the injured Christian Benteke.

Meanwhile, Sone Aluko netted a brilliantly taken winner in the 76th minute as Hull twice came from behind to earn a thrilling 3-2 victory against Newcastle at St James’ Park.

In other matches, goals by Stephane Sessegnon, Liam Ridgewell and Morgan Amalfitano helped West Brom to their first win this season, as they defeated Sunderland 3-0 to leave them at the bottom of the table. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2013.

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