Silva, also a scorer in the 3-0 win at Arsenal on Thursday, poked in David Silva’s cross at the back post just 35 seconds into the second half.

City dominated the game but had to be patient against a defensively-minded and unadventurous visitors.

Antonio Conte’s side did not have a shot on target in the match.

They have now lost four of their last five Premier League games and remain five points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.

–

Source: BBC Sport

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The clubs have until 18:00 GMT on Friday to respond to the charges, while Aguero has been “reminded of his responsibilities”.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will not be punished by the Football Association following a post-match confrontation with a fan after Monday’s FA Cup defeat by Wigan.

Television footage appeared to show Aguero pushing a supporter and he later claimed he was spat and sworn at.

Both clubs have been charged by the FA for failing to control their players after Fabian Delph was sent-off.

But no individual players or staff will face any disciplinary action.

Delph’s first-half red card led to a heated argument between City boss Pep Guardiola and opposite number Paul Cook in the tunnel at the break, but the FA said “no misconduct took place”.

Wigan and City have also been asked to provide their observations to the FA by Monday, after crowd trouble at the end of the game, which saw fans invade the pitch.

Some supporters at the DW Stadium ripped out advertising boards and threw them towards police.

Police say two arrests were made on suspicion of affray after an incident outside the ground.

Chairman David Sharpe says Wigan will work with the FA and police to review the pitch invasion.

Will Grigg scored the winner as League One Wigan beat City 1-0 and ended their hopes of winning a Quadruple of the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League.

It is understood Aguero is considering legal action against a fan who confronted him.

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City took the lead through a long-range Danilo strike but failed to turn their dominance into further goals.

Raheem Sterling was guilty of their worst miss when he failed to find the target from six yards after meeting Kyle Walker’s cross at the far post.

Burnley had gone close through Ben Mee and Aaron Lennon, who were both denied by brilliant Ederson saves, but there was no stopping Gudmundsson’s effort.

He ran into the box to meet Matthew Lowton’s cross with a powerful half-volley that City’s Brazilian goalkeeper got a hand to, but could not keep out.

City still extend their lead at the top of the table to 16 points, at least until nearest rivals Manchester United play Huddersfield later on Saturday.

Burnley have now gone nine league games without a win, but the manner of their comeback to hold the runaway leaders will give boss Sean Dyche something to smile about after a disappointing start to 2018.

City pay the price for Sterling’s miss

Raheem Sterling has scored 19 goals in all competitions but somehow sidefooted wide from Kyle Walker’s low cross when City led 1-0

City were chasing their 23rd win in 26 league games this season, and also trying to become only the third team in the Premier League era (after Manchester United in 2000 and Chelsea in 2006) to hold an 18-point lead at the top of the table.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger complained this week that competition in the Premier League is being destroyed by City’s financial power but the memo has obviously not reached Dyche.

His Burnley side rode their luck at times, notably with Sterling’s terrible miss, but were a threat throughout and got their reward at the end of the game.

Guardiola had picked only six out of the seven permitted substitutes, because of a shortage of fit players and a reluctance to call upon his reserves, who played on Friday night.

But their failure to see out this victory was down to their sheer wastefulness, not any shortage of resources in their squad.

And while Sterling had complained before the game that City were being “butchered” by bad tackles, the Clarets’ wholehearted approach never got near to anything remotely resembling dangerous play.

The only challenge that might have irked Guardiola was a scything first-half tackle by Kevin Long on Ilkay Gundogan that earned the Burnley defender a booking.

–

Source: BBC Sport

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Having won all but two of their league matches this season, Pep Guardiola’s side found themselves 4-1 down midway through the second half and they looked well beaten before a late rally set up a nerve-jangling finale but the hosts held on for a 4-3 win.

The ending of their 30-match unbeaten run, stretching back to April, handed Manchester United the chance to cut City’s lead to 12 against Stoke on Monday.

Having drawn level just before the break when Leroy Sane cancelled out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s early opener, City were torn apart by three brilliant goals in nine minutes from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, although all were assisted by defensive errors.

Substitute Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan scored late on to raise hopes of an unlikely comeback but Liverpool held on to extend their own unbeaten run to 18 matches, their longest sequence since 2008.

The result helped paper over the cracks in the Liverpool backline where questions are still being asked about their goalkeepers.

Jurgen Klopp picked Loris Karius ahead of established number one Simon Mignolet and suggested the place was now the German’s to lose.

With £75million record signing Virgil van Dijk already missing with a tight hamstring it was a huge call and one, arguably, the Reds boss got wrong with Karius at fault for the equaliser.

Instead of providing a solution it merely reopened the debate about whether either goalkeeper is good enough for a side with future title ambitions.

There cannot be any such argument about Klopp’s attacking resources, particularly as this was their first outing since the £142million sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s low ninth-minute 20-yard strike was the deserved reward for Liverpool being one of the few sides to take the game to City.

It was his third Premier League goal of the season and the 24-year-old now has as many league goals in 20 games for Liverpool as he scored for Arsenal in the last two campaigns.

City, who had to replace injured left-back Fabian Delph on the half-hour, had speculative shots from Sane and Kevin De Bruyne but Liverpool had better with Firmino’s near-post header going just wide.

However, five minutes before the break Joe Gomez misjudged Kyle Walker’s crossfield ball and Sane skipped past him and Joel Matip and beat Karius too easily at his near post.

Six minutes into the second half Nicolas Otamendi’s header against the bar was the signal for Liverpool to raise their game. The momentum changed in three pivotal minutes which exposed the league leaders like never before this season as both City centre-backs were found wanting.

John Stones was out-muscled by Firmino for Oxlade-Chamberlain’s through-ball and the Brazilian dinked an effort in off the far post before Mane hit the outside of the same upright with a curling right-footer.

But Senegal international Mane was not to be denied when Salah nipped in front of Otamendi and teed up his team-mate to lash the ball into the top corner with his weaker left foot.

Still, Liverpool poured forward and when Ederson miscued a clearance to Salah the Egypt international lobbed it back over the goalkeeper’s head for his 24th strike of the season.

Silva and Gundogan enhanced City’s reputation for late goals but it was not enough.

–

Source: Talksport

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Manchester City smashed Bournemouth to continue their record-breaking run with their 17th straight victory in the Premier League.

Sergio Aguero took his tally of Etihad Stadium goals past 100 with a double, as the top flight leaders swept past the Cherries.

Raheem Sterling also claimed his 16th goal of the season and Danilo his first for the club late on, as Pep Guardiola’s side took their 2017 tally to 101 goals.

City were not at their sparkling best but still had far too much for Bournemouth, who have now lost back-to-back games 4-0 after last week’s thrashing by Liverpool and are without a win in seven.

Another win moves Man City 14 points clear at the top of the table at the halfway stage of the season.

West Ham 2-3 Newcastle:

Newcastle came from behind and managed to hold on in a nervy finale to beat West Ham in a five-goal thriller at the London Stadium.

Marko Arnautovic continued his great run of form with the Hammers’ opening goal inside just six minutes, the former capitalising on a dreadful back-pass from  Henri Saivet.

But Saivet redeemed himself with a wonderful free-kick to pull the Magpies level just four minutes later, and David Moyes’ men then found themselves behind when Mohamed Diame netted early in the second-half.

Newcastle then went 3-1 up when Christian Atsu finished off a neat counter-attacking move, and made the most of some woeful West Ham defending.

Andre Ayew, who had earlier missed a penalty, found the net in the 69th minute to give West Ham hope, but Rafa Benitez’s side managed to hold on to claim a vital three points.

Victory lifts Newcastle to 15th, two points clear of the bottom-three, with West Ham slipping to 17th and just a point off the relegation zone.

Brighton 1-0 Watford:

The hopeless Hornets suffered their fifth defeat in six games as Pascal Gross’s second-half strike earned Brighton a home victory.

It was a vital win for the Seagulls, who ended their seven-game winless streak with a deserved three points.

Albion had not found the net from open play for more than ten-and-a-half hours when German midfielder Gross cut on to his right foot and let fly with a 64th-minute drive which flew under Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

The well-earned win was much needed for Seagulls manager Chris Hughton, ending a run of three points from a possible 27 while inflicting a fourth successive loss on the Hornets and putting a little more pressure on their boss Marco Silva.

Southampton 1-1 Huddersfield:

Charlie Austin could face a suspension after his challenge on Jonas Lossl left the Danish goalkeeper with a blood-soaked face as Southampton drew 1-1 with Huddersfield at St Mary’s.

Austin fired Saints into the lead but later avoided sanction despite catching Huddersfield keeper Lossl in the nose in a bad-tempered south coast affair.

The striker could face retrospective punishment from the Football Association for his actions, with a three-match ban a possibility, while Lossl managed to play on undeterred after lengthy treatment.

Austin’s fifth strike in five starts was cancelled out by Laurent Depoitre’s third goal in as many games however, as the Terriers fought back for a share of the spoils.

Saints frontman Austin later hobbled off with a leg issue as injury cut short his mixed afternoon.

The draw left Southampton with just one win in 10 Premier League encounters, maintaining pressure on manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

Stoke City 3-1 West Brom:

The pressure on Stoke manager Mark Hughes eased a little following a 3-1 home victory against West Brom.

Five defeats in the previous six Premier League matches had dragged Stoke towards the relegation battle, but Hughes said in the build-up to the game he did not feel defeat here would spell the end of his four and a half years in charge.

Chairman Peter Coates, however, described Saturday’s fixture against the second-from-bottom club as “one we need to win.”

It looked like Stoke would comfortably oblige after first-half goals from Joe Allen and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting put them firmly in control but West Brom rallied at the start of the second half and Salomon Rondon halved their deficit.

However, the Baggies were unable to get anything from the game and Alan Pardew is still looking for his first victory since taking over as manager five matches ago.

More worryingly, his group of players are without a Premier League win for 17 matches.

Swansea 1-1 Crystal Palace:

Leon Britton’s first game as Swansea caretaker manager ended in a 1-1 home draw against Crystal Palace.

Swansea had put club stalwart Britton in temporary charge after sacking Paul Clement on Wednesday, and there was a familiar feel about proceedings when Luka Milivojevic put Palace ahead on the hour.

But substitute Jordan Ayew rescued a point 13 minutes from time with a thunderous 20-yard drive – his second goal of the season, with his previous Premier League strike coming against Palace at Selhurst Park in August.

Britton – half the age of Palace boss Roy Hodgson – oversaw a vastly improved display from a Swansea side who had scored only 10 goals in 18 games under Clement this season.

But Swansea will still spend Christmas bottom of the league as they seek to make a swift managerial appointment.

–

Source: Talksport

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Two goals from the prolific Raheem Sterling added to earlier efforts from Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne as the hosts swept the Londoners aside on a misty night.

Christian Eriksen did score a Spurs consolation, but City could easily have scored several more with Gabriel Jesus – from the penalty spot – and Bernardo Silva both hitting the post and Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris making several good saves.

Perhaps critically, the visitors chose not to adopt the defensive mentality of some of City’s recent opponents and set out to press them.

That made for a frantic start, with neither side wanting to allow their opponents much time on the ball, but City soon worked Spurs out.

De Bruyne began to dictate the tempo and Leroy Sane tormented Kieran Trippier on the right. Sergio Aguero had City’s first serious chance when he headed wide at the near post from a De Bruyne free-kick and the opener followed from another set-piece.

This time it was a corner and Gundogan, replacing David Silva in the side due to personal reasons, reprised the Spaniard’s recent goal-scoring heroics by arriving unmarked to head home.

City were already well on top by this stage and it was remarkable that a second goal did not immediately follow.

Aguero forced a good save from Lloris and Sterling blazed over before Gundogan also shot at the keeper.

Aguero put another shot wide and Spurs were relieved to reach half-time having suffered only limited damage.

Their only opportunities had fallen to Harry Kane, who headed wide and curled a low shot just beyond the post before taking a boot in the face from Nicolas Otamendi in an accidental clash.

City had a lull early in the second half, but Ederson saved well from Kane.

Pep Guardiola rejuvenated his attack by sending on Jesus for Aguero and within moments the Brazilian was denied by Lloris. Sane then forced a fine save from the Frenchman.

Dele Alli was perhaps fortunate to escape being sent off after coming down on the ankle of De Bruyne with a heavy challenge. The England international, who also caught Gundogan in the first half, was shown only a yellow card.

De Bruyne seemed hurt, but the damage was not lasting as he burst into the area moments later and blasted a close-range shot through the grasp of Lloris to double City’s lead.

De Bruyne looked like producing a carbon copy of that goal soon after, but was felled by Jan Vertonghen. Jesus fired the resulting spot-kick against the post and Sterling shot over from the rebound.

Sterling did not dwell on the miss, making it 3-0 after being teed up by Sane at the end of a slick move and then pouncing on a defensive mistake to add the fourth late on.

Eriksen had the final word for Spurs in injury time, but it was a night to forget for the visitors.

–

Source: TalkSport

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Huddersfield Town 2-1 Manchester United

Huddersfield ended Manchester United’s unbeaten start to the season with a famous win at the John Smith’s Stadium, courtesy of goals from Aaron Mooy and Laurent Depoitre.

Marcus Rashford suggested the comeback could be on by grabbing a goal back in the 78th minute, but the Terriers deservedly hung on to record their first league win against United since 1952.

Manchester City 3-0 Burnley

Sergio Aguero, as many expected, equalled Eric Brook’s tally of 177 goals to go level at the top of Man City’s all-time goalscoring record in a victory that sent Pep Guardiola’s side five points clear at the summit of the Premier League table.

The Citizens weren’t at their fluid best in attack, with a number of players, including Gabriel Jesus, rested, but goals from Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane in the final twenty minutes of the game sealed an ultimately comfortable win.

Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace

Newcastle left it late, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring the winner in the 86th minute, as Crystal Palace failed to pick up from where they left off against Chelsea last weekend.

The Eagles have clearly improved under Roy Hodgson and did look the more likely team to win the three points at St James’ Park, but Merino was on hand to leave the Magpies sixth in the league.

Stoke City 1-2 Bournemouth

Bournemouth have been hugely disappointing in front of goal this season, but rediscovered their touch at the bet365 Stadium, with the damage done by Andrew Surman and Junior Stanislas within 20 minutes of the contest.

Stoke responded in the 68th minute, through Mame Biram Diouf, but their struggles continue as they sit only one point above the Cherries in the relegation zone.

Swansea City 1-2 Leicester City

Leicester shook off the disappointment of Craig Shakespeare’s sacking by making a winning start to life under caretaker manager Michael Appleton.

A dominant display saw the Foxes record only their second of the season, as a Federico Fernandez own goal and a counter-attack finished off by Shinji Okazaki sealed the points. Alfie Mawson’s strike was little more than consolation for the Swans.

–

Source: Talk Sport

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Kevin De Bruyne scored the only goal as Pep Guardiola’s men suffocated Chelsea with their intensity to move six points clear of the holders after seven games.

Chelsea lost striker Alvaro Morata to an apparent hamstring problem in the first half and were second best to a City side denied when Thibaut Courtois saved from David Silva and then Fernandinho.

De Bruyne’s left-footed strike from the edge of the area proved decisive against his former club, to give City a sixth win from seven games and inflict Chelsea’s second loss of the season.

De Bruyne left Chelsea for Wolfsburg in January 2014 and moved to City for £58million 18 months later. He is proving his calibre after being deemed surplus to requirements under then Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Antonio Conte’s champions were the only side to beat City at home and away last season, but City had conceded just twice, dropping just two points, in their six prior games and not at all in September.

City’s line-up showed the strength of resources, even with Sergio Aguero absent following his car crash in Amsterdam.

Chelsea were buoyed by Wednesday night’s win at Atletico Madrid and started the brighter.

Morata twice went close. Nicolas Otamendi recovered to deny the striker as he latched on to Cesc Fabregas’ pass and then Morata headed over from N’Golo Kante’s cross.

City did not let Chelsea’s defenders have the time on the ball.

The hosts avoided early calamity when Gabriel Jesus charged down Courtois’ attempted clearance from Antonio Rudiger’s back pass and the ball went wide.

Fabian Delph, again deployed at left wing-back, had an effort blocked by Rudiger and John Stones headed the resulting De Bruyne corner wide. Stones fell heavily and had his wrist bandaged.

Raheem Sterling was sharp in the first half and intercepted one Fabregas pass out from the back, but Andreas Christensen, again deputising for the suspended David Luiz, tackled the City forward.

Cesar Azpilicueta, pushed forwards to right wing-back to negate the threat of Leroy Sane, had a shot saved by Ederson, who claimed the resulting corner and launched a counter attack.

Sterling surged down the right but over-hit his cross with Silva and Jesus queueing up at the far post.

Sane and Silva next linked on the left and Courtois saved smartly from the Spain playmaker.

Morata departed clutching the back of his left leg, but instead of turning to like-for-like replacement Michy Batshuayi, Conte sent on Willian.

Courtois saved Chelsea again. De Bruyne’s corner found Fernandinho, whose diving header was parried by Courtois.

Fernandinho was booked for a foul on Hazard, who then stung the palms of Ederson after Fabregas’ quick free-kick.

Sterling caused havoc down Chelsea’s left in the second half. Silva had an effort blocked by Marcos Alonso and then Sterling’s pass was flicked away from Silva by Rudiger.

City took a deserved lead when De Bruyne played a one-two with Jesus and struck a thunderous left-footed shot which left Courtois with no chance.

Jesus next saw his side-foot volley from Sterling’s cross headed off the line by Rudiger as City celebrated an important win.

–

TalkSport

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Manchester City and Manchester United have enjoyed strong starts to their league campaigns with four wins and a draw in their first five games.

Both sides have been very prolific up front and have conceded just two goals each so far this season.

City thrashed in-form Watford 6-0 at Vicarage Road on Saturday while Man Utd scored only two fewer against Everton on Sunday, with both games live on Citi 97.3 FM.

Their main rivals, on the other hand, have endured mixed starts to the season – Chelsea have dropped five points already this season, Liverpool and Tottenham seven and Arsenal eight.

Everton, who were expected to present a serious challenge to the top six have not managed a win this season, the latest game ending in the disappointing loss to United as part of Citi FM‘s #EPLRoadshow.

According to Mr. Butcher, the two Manchester clubs’ strong start to the season makes them clear favourites for the title while Chelsea’s foray into European competition might hamper a title challenge.

“Manchester City are very strong; very strong in Europe. Last year Chelsea won the title because – and this was one of the main reasons they won it – they weren’t playing in Europe. Now they are so I think that will hurt them,” he told Citi Sports after the FutureStars Schools’ Sports Festival at the Tema Sports Stadium on Saturday.

“I just see Manchester City and Manchester United being the two frontrunners for the title this year and not Arsenal, Liverpool or Everton. Maybe Spurs but it’s really a two-horse race in Manchester. In a way, it’s good because it’s one of the best Premier League [seasons] because it’s pretty wide open.”

[box type=”shadow” align=”aligncenter” ]The FutureStars Schools Project seeks to encourage children to stay in school through the power of sport. The Programme is a holistic approach to human development. This year’s festival was the fourth edition and aimed to engage young people in sport and education to enhance their lives by encouraging the children to go to school using the power of football and sports in general.[/box]

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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