Rampant Man City put six past hapless Tottenham
Victory preserves City’s 100% home record in EPL.
Manchester City have now scored 34 goals in the Premier League this season, and currently enjoy the highest goal difference of 22. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON:
Manchester City swept back to becoming the Premier League’s top title contenders after humiliating title rivals Tottenham Hotspur 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Beaten 1-0 by Sunderland in their last outing prior to the international break, City did not look back after Jesus Navas gave them the lead after only 14 seconds.
The Spanish winger deftly lobbed Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after the Frenchman had gifted the ball to Sergio Aguero with a loose kick, and an own goal from Sandro in the 34th minute made it 2-0.
Aguero claimed a brace either side of half-time, tucking away centres from Navas and Yaya Toure, to take his tally of goals to 14 in his last 11 appearances.
Alvaro Negredo added a fifth in the 55th minute, flummoxing Michael Dawson with an audacious turn and lashing a left-foot shot past Lloris, before Navas completed the rout in injury time.
The victory preserved City’s 100% home record in the league this season and having annihilated Norwich City 7-0 in their last fixture at the Etihad, they have now scored 13 goals in their last two home games.
Goals make Giroud stronger, says Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that Olivier Giroud’s double against Southampton confirmed the France striker’s growing confidence.
Giroud set his side on course for a 2-0 victory that moved them four points clear at the head of the league table.
“Other strikers will tell you, ‘I am not obsessed by scoring goals’, but if they don’t, they are sick,” said Wenger. “It is a relief on their shoulders.
“I believe as well that Olivier didn’t expect himself to score so many from the start of the season, but it can only boost his confidence.”
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho is confident he can carry on getting the best out of Frank Lampard as the midfielder nears the end of his career.
At 35, Lampard is the elder statesman of Mourinho’s Chelsea team but emphasised his worth with two goals in a comprehensive 3-0 win at West Ham as the Blues moved up into third place in the Premier League table on Saturday.
“He’s in a moment where he has nothing to prove, to you to the fans, to me, to himself,” Mourinho said of Lampard.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2013.
Manchester City swept back to becoming the Premier League’s top title contenders after humiliating title rivals Tottenham Hotspur 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Beaten 1-0 by Sunderland in their last outing prior to the international break, City did not look back after Jesus Navas gave them the lead after only 14 seconds.
The Spanish winger deftly lobbed Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after the Frenchman had gifted the ball to Sergio Aguero with a loose kick, and an own goal from Sandro in the 34th minute made it 2-0.
Aguero claimed a brace either side of half-time, tucking away centres from Navas and Yaya Toure, to take his tally of goals to 14 in his last 11 appearances.
Alvaro Negredo added a fifth in the 55th minute, flummoxing Michael Dawson with an audacious turn and lashing a left-foot shot past Lloris, before Navas completed the rout in injury time.
The victory preserved City’s 100% home record in the league this season and having annihilated Norwich City 7-0 in their last fixture at the Etihad, they have now scored 13 goals in their last two home games.
Goals make Giroud stronger, says Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that Olivier Giroud’s double against Southampton confirmed the France striker’s growing confidence.
Giroud set his side on course for a 2-0 victory that moved them four points clear at the head of the league table.
“Other strikers will tell you, ‘I am not obsessed by scoring goals’, but if they don’t, they are sick,” said Wenger. “It is a relief on their shoulders.
“I believe as well that Olivier didn’t expect himself to score so many from the start of the season, but it can only boost his confidence.”
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho is confident he can carry on getting the best out of Frank Lampard as the midfielder nears the end of his career.
At 35, Lampard is the elder statesman of Mourinho’s Chelsea team but emphasised his worth with two goals in a comprehensive 3-0 win at West Ham as the Blues moved up into third place in the Premier League table on Saturday.
“He’s in a moment where he has nothing to prove, to you to the fans, to me, to himself,” Mourinho said of Lampard.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2013.