3 Mar 2019

Manchester City back on top

9:13 am on 3 March 2019

Manchester City moved back to the top of the English Premier football League after a 1-0 win at Bournemouth.

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal of the game 10 minutes into the second half to put City two points ahead of Liverpool, who play at Everton tomorrow.

Tottenham remained third after a 1-1 draw with Arsenal, while Manchester United moved above the Gunners into fourth after they beat Southampton 3-2.

City struggled to break down Bournemouth in the first half and lost Kevin de Bruyne to injury just before half-time.

Mahrez replaced the Belgian and squeezed in the crucial goal 10 minutes into the second half to put the pressure back on Liverpool.

"We made one of the best performances we have played," City coach Pep Guardiola said

"Bournemouth were very organised, but they didn't have one shot. We created a few chances. People should understand how difficult it is to attack 11 (defending) players."

Tottenham stayed four points clear of Arsenal as they drew 1-1 in the north London derby, although Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a late penalty for Arsenal in injury time.

Aaron Ramsey put Arsenal ahead after 16 minutes but Harry Kane equalized from the penalty spot on 74 minutes, before Aubameyang's late penalty for Arsenal was saved by Hugo Lloris.

Beaten in each of their last two games, Tottenham had Lloris to thank for their point, having lost their previous two games.

Romelu Lukaku scored twice, including a late winner, as United edged out a battling Southampton side 3-2 to go above Arsenal into fourth.

"We had character and belief more than quality," United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.

"We lacked a bit of class, we should have been 2-0 up after five minutes. But we have three points and we are happy."

Yann Valery put Southampton in front early on but Andreas Perreira and Lukaku helped United lead before James Ward Prowse equalised for the visitors.

Lukaku snatched the winner in the 89th minute and though Paul Pobga missed a penalty, the result lifted United one point above Arsenal, while Southampton are just two points above the bottom three.

Rock bottom Huddersfield look dead and buried, 13 points from safety with nine games to go, after a 1-0 defeat at Brighton.

Cardiff are still in the bottom three after a 2-0 loss at Wolves while Crystal Palace moved further away from trouble with a 3-1 win at Burnley.

West Ham beat Newcastle 2-0 in the day's late match to move up to ninth, with Declan Rice and Mark Noble scoring the goals.