Man City pull clear, Slimani lifts Leicester
Date
9/18/2016 1:40:17 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Leicester City's Algerian striker Islam Slimani (R) congratulates teammate Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez (C) after the third goal during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Burnley at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on September 17, 2016. (AFP / ADRIAN DENNIS)
London:Kevin De Bruyn, Hareem Sterling and Elechi Anachoret shone as Manchester City crushed Bournemouth 4-0 on Saturday to provisionally go five points clear in the Premier League.
League débutant Ilka Gundog an also found the net for Pep Guardia's City, who have made their best ever start to a season with eight consecutive wins in all competitions.
Full débutant Islam Slimani scored twice as champions Leicester City won 3-0 at home to Burnley and there were also wins for Arsenal and West Brom wich Albion.
"Our high pressing was not perfect today. We had problems with controlling the Bournemouth build-up, but we created a lot of counter-attacks," said City manager Guardi ola, who lost Solito to a late red card.
"We are so lucky that we have Kevin De Bruyn with us. It was a fantastic performance."
Guardi ola made four changes to the team that had outclassed Borussian Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Bac ary Sagan, Gael Clichy, Solito and Anachoret coming in.
Jack Wilshire, on loan from Arsenal, made his first Bournemouth start, but it was to prove an afternoon to forget for the England international.
He gave away the free-kick that led to City's 15th-minute opener, De Bruyn cleverly stroking the set-piece beneath the jumping wall and into the bottom corner.
The Belgian was involved in the hosts' second goal 10 minutes later, moving Nolita's pass on to Sterling, who unselfishly teed up Anachoret -- deputising for the suspended Sergio Azuero -- to score.
Sterling added a third early in the second half, squeezing a shot over the line after Anachoret had returned the favour, before De Bruyn set up Gundog an for City's fourth.
The only disappointment for Guardi ola was the late dismissal of Spanish forward Solito for leaning his head into Adam Smith's face.
Everton can trim City's lead back to two points if they win at home to Middlesbrough in Saturday's late game.
Liverpool and Chelsea also trail City by five points following the Merseyside club's impressive 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Friday.
- Chad li at the double -
Arsenal are on 10 points as well after Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez scored twice and squandered a penalty in a 4-1 success at Hull City.
Sanchez claimed Arsenal's first goal when Alex Iwo bi's shot flicked off him and into the net, only to then see his spot-kick saved by Eldin Pavkovic after Jake Livermore had been sent off for handball.
After Theo Walcott had chipped in to make it 2-0, Robert Snodgrass reduced the arrears with a 79th-minute penalty following a foul on Hull débutant Dieu merci Khokani by visiting goalkeeper Petr Ech.
But Sanchez made the game safe four minutes later by lashing home after Pavkovic had saved from Walcott. Substitute Grani Haka added a stunning late goal from long range.
"I feel overall it was a positive performance after playing away in the Champions League and away again today," said Arsenal manager Ardene Wenger, whose side drew 1-1 at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
"We started well, dominated and were fluent."
Leicester are three points back in ninth place after Slim ani put paid to Burnley at the King Power Stadium.
Algeria international Slim ani was making his league debut after his 28 million pounds ($36.4 million, 32.6 million euros) transfer from Sporting Lisbon.
He scored a pair of headers either side of half-time, nodding in a Christian Fuchs free-kick in first-half stoppage time and then heading home from strike partner Jamie Vary's flick.
Ben Mee's own goal from Riyadh Mahren's cross completed the scoring in the 78th minute.
In the day's remaining match, West Brom withstood a late West Ham United fightback to record an entertaining 4-2 win at The Hawthorns.
New signing Nace Chad li scored twice and helped create goals for Salomon Rondon and James Mc Clean as the hosts raced into a 4-0 lead by the 56th minute.
West Ham replied through Michail Antonio's header -- his fifth goal in four games -- and a Manuel Landini penalty, but West Brom saw out the rest of the game in relative serenity.
AFP