LONDON: Manchester City maintained their squeeze on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday, a result that keeps Pep Guardiola’s side lurking two points behind the leaders and ready to pounce.
Aston Villa came from behind to win 3-2 at West Ham United to remain in the thick of the title race, while Nottingham Forest trounced error-prone visitors Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 for their fourth win in six league games.
At Selhurst Park, Erling Haaland scored twice and Phil Foden added another as second-placed City, who have 34 points, stayed in touch with Arsenal, who needed two own goals in a nervy 2-1 win over rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Haaland met Matheus Nunes’ cross with a thundering header after 41 minutes and Foden doubled the lead when he fired past Henderson from the edge of the box in the 69th.
Haaland sealed the victory from the penalty spot late on after goalkeeper Dean Henderson fouled Savinho.
“Erling is a forward to score the goals but in the second half he keeps the ball,” Guardiola told Sky Sports. “He was able to contain situations. He helped us be together. In the second half he was outstanding.”
Palace are fifth on 26 points.
ROGERS DOUBLE LIFTS VILLA TO VICTORY
At London Stadium, Morgan Rogers struck twice to put Aston Villa on 33 points in third spot. West Ham’s sixth home defeat of the season left them third from bottom with 13 points.
Villa conceded after 29 seconds as Mateus Fernandes punished a mistake by Ezri Konsa and the away side trailed 2-1 at the interval before Rogers took matters into his own hands.
He drilled home an equalizer five minutes after the break and then smashed a dipping drive past keeper Alphonse Areola late on to seal the points.
Villa had canceled out West Ham’s early opener in the 10th minute with defender Konstantinos Mavropanos credited with an own goal but Jarrod Bowen put the hosts back in front.
“We needed to keep calm and be consistent and demanding in our game plan,” Villa boss Unai Emery told the BBC.
“I like how the players are responding, how they are getting the challenges we are sending in the dressing room but now everything is done and we go again.”
At the City Ground, Callum Hudson-Odoi bagged a double and Ibrahim Sangare added a late goal to lift Forest five points clear of the danger zone in 16th. Spurs are 11th on 22 points.
“The players are looking fitter, sharper and I know we have quality here, it was on show today,” Forest boss Sean Dyche told Sky.
“It’s often about building the basics. The players are doing it brilliantly. We’re building that squad mentality.” (Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris)
