Manchester City clearly won the Premier League top game against leaders Arsenal and thus probably ensured the preliminary decision in the English championship (to the table). Coach Pep Guardiola’s team beat the team of Guardiola’s former assistant Mikel Arteta 4-1 (2-0) in their own stadium and Erling Haaland grabbed a record.
Performance data from Kevin De Bruyne
“We were beaten by the better team,” summarized Arteta, visibly disappointed, on the “BT Sport” station. Nevertheless, the Arsenal coach was combative: “We’re not giving up yet. There are still five games left and anything can happen.” City’s double goalscorer Kevin De Bruyne, who didn’t want to talk about the championship just yet, took a similar view. “That’s still too long,” said the outstanding player on the pitch. “People say we win the title. We’ll only do it if it’s mathematically correct.”
Leaders Arsenal (75 points) still have a two-point lead over the Citizens (73) after the defeat. But the Londoners, who have now gone four games without a win, are out of control with five games left in the season as Manchester have played two games fewer and could move up the table with a win or two draws in the catch-up games.
Performance data from Erling Haaland
De Bruyne (7th/54th minute), John Stones (45th + 1) and Haaland (90th + 5) shot the in-form defending champion at the Etihad Stadium to their seventh Premier League win in a row. City was the dominant and more offensive team from the start in the surprisingly one-sided top game. Star striker Haaland, who now has 33 Premier League goals to his name, setting a record, even missed some high-profile chances. Rob Holding scored the only goal for the guests from London (86th).
The ex-BVB professional now has the best goal tally in a 38-game season on the island – before him Mohamed Salah took first place with 32 goals in the 2017/18 season. The all-time record is held by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole with 34 goals in the mid-1990s, but they also had 42 game days to do so.
All top scorers in the Premier LeagueHaaland on record course: Most goals in a Premier League season → Click here for the gallery!
Premier League: Liverpool climbs to European Cup place – Chelsea loses again
Meanwhile, Liverpool FC kept their chance of qualifying for a European competition with a 2-1 (1-1) win at West Ham United, who were threatened with relegation. Winter signing Cody Gakpo (18th) and ex-Schalke player Joel Matip (67th) turned the game around after the “Hammers” in London initially took the lead thanks to Lucas Paquetá (12th). Liverpool moved up to sixth place in the table.
To the Premier League table
On the other hand, the troubled Chelsea suffered a defeat in the fifth game under their hapless interim coach Frank Lampard. The Blues lost 2-0 (1-0) to London rivals Brentford FC after an own goal by César Azpilicueta (37′) and a goal by Bryan Mbeumo (78′) at home at Stamford Bridge. The Blues, who added more than €600m to their squad this season, are among the six most in-form teams in Europe.
Managerial performance data from Frank LampardSaka in 2nd place: The most valuable players in the Premier League → Click here for the gallery!