Image Source : AP Manchester City
Manchester City received its twentieth straight recreation in all competitions and opened up a 13-point lead within the Premier League by beating West Ham 2-1 due to objectives from heart backs Ruben Dias and John Stones on Saturday.
Playing lower than 72 hours after a Champions League match in Budapest, City produced one among its sloppiest shows in current months however emerged with its successful run intact as Stones swept within the decisive objective within the 68th minute from Riyad Mahrez’s move.
Dias, Stones’ accomplice in central protection, put City in entrance off a header from a deep cross by Kevin De Bruyne within the thirtieth just for Pep Guardiola’s group to concede its first dwelling objective in 2½ months when Michail Antonio equalized simply earlier than halftime.
It was City’s 14th win in a row within the league — solely the sixth time that has been achieved in English top-flight historical past. Three of these have been attained by City below Guardiola since his arrival in 2016.
Manchester United and Leicester are tied for factors as City’s nearest rivals, and each play Sunday.
Guardiola rotated his group, as he promised he would, and included file scorer Sergio Aguero within the beginning lineup for the primary time within the league since Oct. 24 — coincidentally towards West Ham, too.
The injury-plagued Argentina striker lasted solely 60 minutes earlier than being taken off and he appeared off the tempo. He was partially guilty for West Ham’s Forty third-minute objective, too, after dropping possession cheaply inside City’s half earlier than the guests broke ahead rapidly.
West Ham, within the unusually elevated place of fourth, allowed City few clear-cut alternatives at an empty Etihad Stadium and posed fairly a risk on the different finish.
Antonio struck the publish earlier than his objective, whereas heart again Issa Diop headed narrowly huge within the third and ultimate minute of stoppage time
