EPL: Manchester City open lead at the top as Chelsea and Liverpool draw their games
Manchester City will be top of the Premier League at Christmas after they breezed past Newcastle 4-0 with Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling scoring the goals.
Newcastle made City’s task far easier than it should have been by gifting them the opening goal – scored by Dias on five minutes – after a comical mix-up between Ciaran Clark and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Cancelo then netted his first Premier League goal of the season on 27 minutes with a rasping drive from the edge of the box.
Newcastle had a strong penalty appeal waved away moments later when Ederson wiped out Ryan Fraser but a comeback never looked likely, especially when Mahrez tucked home City’s third on 63 minutes following a VAR review.
Sterling added a fourth late on, scoring City’s 11th goal in their last two fixtures.
City have now won 34 Premier League games in 2021, setting a new top-division record for most wins in a calendar year and will top the tree on Christmas Day.
Elsewhere, fans were treated to a thriller in north London in an exhilarating contest that resembled a basketball game as Tottenham and Liverpool went full throttle.
Harry Kane gave Spurs the lead with a clinical finish from Tanguy Ndombele’s excellent through ball.
Liverpool’s defence may have looked suspect, but their attack was as blistering as ever, with Diogo Jota levelling with an outstanding header via Andrew Robertson’s cross.
Liverpool then took a controversial lead through Robertson’s header , with Spurs claiming Mo Salah handballed in the build-up.
Spurs did not cower, however, and levelled instantly though Son, who rolled into an empty net after Alisson has inexplicably let a through ball between his legs.
Chelsea also slipped further in the Premier League title race as they were held to a goalless draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Daniel Podence had an early goal ruled out for offside as Wolves enjoyed the better of the opening period but in foggy conditions chances were few and far between.
Leander Dendoncker’s header just before half-time was comfortably saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, while Wolves counterpart Jose Sa did well to deny Christian Pulisic from close range late on.
The results means Liverpool are three points behind Manchester City with Chelsea also six points away from the defending champions.
