Premier League: Man Utd outclassed by ruthless City

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Manchester City stormed back to the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 derby win at home to Manchester United on Sunday as Liverpool maintained their title challenge to the champions with a 2-0 victory over Fulham.

Chelsea, like the top two, remains unbeaten under Maurizio Sarri but lost ground in a goalless draw at home to Everton.

Arsenal also missed the chance to leapfrog North London rivals Spurs into fourth and needed Henrikh Mkhitaryan's late equalizer to salvage a 1-1 draw with Wolves at the Emirates.

Manchester City remains two points clear of Liverpool, but the open four-point gap on Chelsea.

A fourth league defeat of the season leaves Manchester United languishing in eighth, 12 points off the top.

Goals early in each half from David Silva and Sergio Aguero left Manchester City in a commanding position before an Anthony Martial penalty gave Manchester United hope of a comeback.

But Ilkay Gundogan put the result beyond doubt four minutes from time with a third goal that crowned a sublime 44-pass move.

"I think Manchester City right now and Liverpool, Chelsea, and even Arsenal and Tottenham, I think they have numbers to be champion, not just City. We're just two points in front," said Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola.

"What is important is that we are consistent, that we play most of the time good, and always I see many things that we can improve."

Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku appears dejected during their Premier League clash against arch-rivals Manchester City at Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, November 11. /VCG Photo

Fight for top four

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho accepted his side are now just fighting to try and make the top four having finished second to Manchester City last season.

"Since the beginning of the season, we knew that our second position last season was a fantastic achievement for us, and this season we are going to fight for the top four," said Mourinho.

"To speak about the title you need to be in the top positions. So let's fight to close the gap and jump into the top four, if one day we jump into the top four, we'll see what the difference is."

Manchester United scored twice in the closing five minutes to secure a hard-fought 2-1 win away to Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Manchester City thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 at the Etihad.

And Mourinho used his side's tougher preparation to excuse the gulf in class.

"Everybody has to agree, it is one thing to go to Juventus and play against one of the best teams in the world for 90 minutes, another thing to beat Shakhtar Donetsk at home 6-0 and be very relaxed," said Mourinho. "We arrive in different circumstances."

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino (L) fends off Fulham's Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (R) during their Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool, England, November 11. /VCG Photo

Earlier, Liverpool briefly went top by inflicting Fulham's seventh straight defeat at Anfield.

But they needed a huge slice of luck in 14 seconds that completely changed the game shortly before the break.

Aleksandar Mitrovic headed home for the visitors only to be wrongly ruled offside.

The hosts quickly broke upfield as Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold freed Mohamed Salah to score his eighth goal of the season.

"The most important thing is reacting in a situation like that and that was brilliant. Allison, Trent, Mo and done, it was a fantastic situation," said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, whose side put the result beyond doubt when Xherdan Shaqiri made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute.

Everton's Yerry Mina and Chelsea's Alvaro Morata have a word during their Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London, England, November 11. /VCG Photo

Chelsea dominated possession at Stamford Bridge, but could not find a way past the inspired Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal to leave Sarri frustrated.

"At the beginning, we moved the ball too slowly, so it is easy for the opposition to defend and impossible for us to be dangerous," bemoaned Sarri.

Meanwhile, Henrikh Mkhitaryan's 86th-minute equalizer salvaged a 1-1 draw for Arsenal at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday as the Gunners extended their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions.

Unai Emery's side appeared set for defeat against their newly-promoted opponents as they struggled to recover after falling behind to Ivan Cavaleiro's 13th-minute goal.

They were rewarded for an improved second-half performance when Mkhitaryan, introduced as a 76th-minute substitute, floated a cross into the Wolves penalty area that evaded everyone before drifting in at the far post.

The leveler brought relief for the Gunners but for long periods of time, this was a less than convincing performance by the north London club.

If Morgan Gibbs-White's added-time shot had not deflected to safety after striking the underside of the bar, the home side's recent run would have come to an abrupt end.

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (L) and Lucas Torreira (R) react to a missed chance in front of goal during the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium, Manchester, England, November 11. /VCG Photo

Three draws in the previous four games, including Thursday's scoreless stalemate with Sporting Lisbon, ahead of this clash had prompted Arsenal manager Emery to say his side were far from the finished article.

And this performance will only have strengthened the Spaniard's view that more work is needed to find the right balance between attacking intent and defensive solidity.

The steady progress of recent weeks has taken Arsenal to the fringe of the top four but talk of them as possible title contenders stalled against a determined Wolves side aiming to end a run of three successive defeats.

Source(s): AFP