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Reuters
Reuters
Sport
Ian Chadband

Man City surge on, United sink Spurs to stay second

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester City - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - October 28, 2017 Manchester City's Leroy Sane shoots at goal from a free-kick REUTERS/Darren Staples

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City maintained their charge towards the Premier League title with a 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion as Manchester United kept within five points of their neighbours with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Goals from Leroy Sane, Fernandinho and Raheem Sterling moved the leaders on to 28 points - equalling the best return after 10 matches of a Premier League season - as irresistible City took their campaign's tally of league goals to a remarkable 35.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester City - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - October 28, 2017 Manchester City's Fernandinho scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Earlier, Jose Mourinho received the response he had demanded from his United side following their humbling defeat at Huddersfield Town as an 81st-minute goal from substitute Anthony Martial preserved their perfect home record.

The win, their sixth straight victory in the league at Old Trafford without conceding a goal, moved United on to 23 points, three clear of Spurs as champions Chelsea and Arsenal both marched to within a point of their London rivals.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who had shown unusual irritation last week when asked about stories linking compatriot Carlo Ancelotti with his job, seemed rather happier after Eden Hazard's 51st minute goal earned his side a 1-0 win in the late game at Bournemouth to maintain their fourth spot.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester City - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - October 28, 2017 Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores their third goal REUTERS/Darren Staples

Arsene Wenger celebrated a successful 800th Premier League match in charge as Arsenal fought from one down to beat Swansea City 2-1 with second-half goals from Sead Kolasinac and Aaron Ramsey.

Liverpool's Juergen Klopp got the better of his best friend, Huddersfield boss David Wagner, in a 3-0 win at Anfield where second-half strikes from Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum pushed the Reds to sixth on 16 points.

Watford's giddy ascent, though, was checked with a 1-0 home defeat by struggling Stoke City - Darren Fletcher hit the target in the 16th minute - that dropped them to seventh on 15.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 28, 2017 Manchester United's Anthony Martial celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

At the other end of the table, Crystal Palace escaped with an astonishing 2-2 draw with West Ham United, coming back from two down and earning a draw in the seventh minute of stoppage time through Wilfried Zaha.

Pep Guardiola's Man City continue to look unstoppable at domestic level, having opened up in brilliant fashion with Sane scoring his sixth goal in seven league games after 10 minutes.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 28, 2017 Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after Anthony Martial scored their first goal REUTERS/Andrew Yates

COMPLETE CONTROL

Though Jay Rodriguez equalised quickly, City were in complete control once Fernandinho's deflected effort put them ahead after 15 minutes.

Substitute Sterling scored his ninth of the season in all competitions four minutes after coming with City's only late moment of concern en route to a 13th straight win coming when careless defending from Nicolas Otamendi let in Matty Phillips for a consolation.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 28, 2017 Manchester United's Jesse Lingard misses a chance to score Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

City's 28 points equalled the tally accrued by Chelsea in 2005 and Manchester City themselves in 2011 - and both those sides went on to win the title - but neither of those teams could match the plus-29 goal difference of Guardiola's charges.

The manager reserved special praise for Sane, describing him as a "special talent" after City extended their unbeaten record in all competitions to a club record 21.

Mourinho hailed United's win in difficult windy and rainy conditions in the lunchtime fixture between the second and third-placed teams as "deserved" after they had created the lion's share of chances.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 28, 2017 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Martial struck 10 minutes after coming on, latching on to Lukaku's flicked header from David de Gea's goalkick.

It was a scruffy left-foot finish from the Frenchman, leaving Mourinho to smile: "Martial scores with a bad shot -- but the bad shots can be the most beautiful."

Wenger was in bullish mood after Arsenal's win, saying the Gunners had proved their critics wrong by overturning a lead for a third time in a week.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Swansea City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - October 28, 2017 Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey celebrates scoring their second goal with Sead Kolasinac Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

"Again we have showed the mental strength to come back and win the game," said Wenger, now just 10 matches short of former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson's landmark of 810 Premier League matches as manager.

(Reporting by Ian Chadband, editing by Ed Osmond and Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Swansea City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - October 28, 2017 Swansea City’s Samuel Clucas celebrates scoring their first goal with Tammy Abraham and Tom Carroll Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs Swansea City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - October 28, 2017 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and assistant Steve Bould look dejected Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Huddersfield Town - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - October 28, 2017 Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Phil Noble
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Huddersfield Town - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - October 28, 2017 Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum has a shot at goal as Huddersfield Town’s Christopher Schindler and Tom Ince attempt to block Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Huddersfield Town - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - October 28, 2017 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp celebrates with Joe Gomez at the end of the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
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