After yet another scare, Sergio Aguero masterminded a spectacular Manchester City comeback with five goals against Newcastle on Saturday.
City’s 6-1 thrashing of Newcastle provided a reminder of the team’s title credentials after back-to-back Premier league losses and a Champions league setback.
Aleksandar Mitrovic headed Newcastle in front in the 18th minute and it took Aguero until three minutes before half time to equalize. But in a fizzing 13-minute spell at the start of the second half, Aguero added another four goals, while Kevin de Bruyne also got in on the scoring act for the leaders.
Aguero had only scored three goals in the first two months of the season before Saturday and his tally might be have greater had he not been taken off with around 25 minutes remaining.
“In other games he was maybe having a lot of chances but not scoring,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini told the BBC. “But today he returned to his normal amount of chances he creates but this time he scored.”
Without a win after eight games, Newcastle sunk to the bottom of the standings. Northeast rival Sunderland moved ahead on goal difference with a 2-2 draw against West Ham. Sunderland threw away a 2-0 lead to leave Dick Advocaat still searching for his first victory over the campaign.
It’s similarly bleak for Aston Villa, which is a point further ahead with just one win to its name so far. Marko Arnautovic gave Stoke a 1-0 victory at Villa Park. leicester quickly bounced back from its first loss of the season last weekend by winning 2-1 at Norwich. Jamie Vardy scored a seventh goal in eight league games for leicester.
Yohan Cabaye set up Yannick Bolasie’s header and then scored from the penalty spot as Palace beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 to move ahead of leicester into third place on goal difference. A meeting between promoted clubs Bournemouth and Watford ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
In late kick-off game between Chelsea and Southampton, misery continued for Mourinho’s men as they slumped to 1-3 defeat. For Saints, Steve Davis, Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle put the ball in back of the net while William hit a superb free kick in the top corner of the goal to give Chelsea the lead in ten minutes.
United visit ArsenAl
For the first time in 110 weeks, Manchester United enters a Premier league game as the leader. And a trip to Arsenal on Sunday is the perfect platform for louis van Gaal’s side to justify — and fortify — its spot at the summit.
United swept to five wins in its six September fixtures in all competitions and came from behind to edge Wolfsburg in the Champions league on Wednesday.
“I do feel we are improving,” United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin said. “At the start of the season people were talking about good results and not very good performances.’’
At Arsenal, though, it’s a familiar tale of early-season torment. Arsenal is only three points adrift of United in fourth place but two straight group-stage losses in the Champions league have left Arsene Wenger’s team in danger of missing out on the lucrative knockout phase.
“When we play like we did (on Tuesday against Olympiakos), with that lack of concentration and discipline, then we have got no chance,” Mertesacker said. “(Saturday’s game) will be a good opportunity to come back to Emirates and play our football with possession and dynamism.”
Barcelona lose to Sevilla
MADRID: Barcelona lost 2-1 at struggling Sevilla on Saturday, missing the chance to take the provisional lead in the Spanish league.
Striker Michael Krohn-Dehli scored in the 52nd and set up Vicente Iborra’s goal in the 58th to give Sevilla its first home win against Barcelona in seven years. Neymar scored Barcelona’s lone goal by converting a 74th-minute penalty kick.