Manchester City wins twentieth straight sport to steer Premier League by 13 factors

Manchester City gained its twentieth straight sport in all competitions and opened up a 13-point lead within the Premier League by beating West Ham 2-1 due to targets from middle 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 latest months however emerged with its successful run intact as Stones swept within the decisive aim 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 left-footed cross by Kevin De Bruyne within the thirtieth just for Pep Guardiola’s crew to concede its first house aim in 2{ months when Michail Antonio equalized simply earlier than halftime.
“Some days it doesn’t come off for the forwards, and today me and Ruben chipped in,” Stones mentioned. “That’s part of us being such a good team and the collective. In big games or important games, everyone chips in, maybe sometimes the person you don’t expect.”
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 crew, as he promised he would, and included report scorer Sergio Aguero within the beginning lineup for the primary time within the league since Oct. 24 _ coincidentally in opposition to West Ham, too.
The injury-plagued Argentina striker lasted solely 60 minutes earlier than being taken off and he seemed off the tempo. He was partially guilty for West Ham’s Forty third-minute aim, too, after dropping possession cheaply inside City’s half earlier than the guests broke ahead shortly via Pablo Fornals and Vladimir Coufal.
Jesse Lingard turned Coufal’s cross towards aim and Antonio utilized the ultimate contact from shut vary.
West Ham, within the unusually elevated place of fourth, allowed City few clear-cut alternatives at an empty Etihad Stadium and posed fairly a menace on the different finish.
Antonio struck the put up earlier than his aim, whereas middle again Issa Diop headed narrowly large within the third and closing minute of stoppage time.
“We had to fight right until the last few minutes,” Stones mentioned. “They made it troublesome. So, actually happy.
“We weren’t (playing) our free-flowing football like we have been used to in recent weeks, but that’s how they set up against us. We showed great character in the second half.”
City has gained all of its video games _ throughout 4 competitions _ since a 1-1 draw in opposition to West Bromwich Albion on Dec. 15, which left Guardiola’s aspect in ninth place within the league on the time. That was the final time City had conceded at house, and even that was an own-goal by Dias.
Antonio turned the primary opposition participant to attain a aim from open play in opposition to City on the Etihad in 12 league video games, since James Maddison of Leicester on Sept. 27.