The Sunday News
JAMIE VARDY equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 successive Barclays Premier League matches as Leicester City moved top of the table with a 3-0 win over Newcastle United.
The England international’s sensational run of form in front of goal showed no signs of abating as he netted the opener, before Leonardo Ulloa and Shinji Okazaki sealed victory at St James’ Park.
Having been denied on two earlier occasions, Vardy moved level with Van Nistelrooy in first-half stoppage time as he cut inside Moussa Sissoko and rifled a low shot past Rob Elliot.
Ulloa added the second after 62 minutes with his fourth goal in three appearances against Newcastle, the 29-year-old given a free header by Newcastle’s woeful defending.
Steve McClaren’s side were unable to raise themselves and Leicester wrapped up victory when Okazaki pounced following Elliot’s save from Marc Albrighton.
It leaves Newcastle hovering one point above the bottom three, while Claudio Ranieri’s side climb to the summit above Manchester United ahead of Manchester City’s evening showdown with Liverpool.
Having passed a late fitness test prior to kick-off, Vardy was presented with an early chance to equal Van Nistelrooy’s record after six minutes.
Liverpool wrecked Manchester City’s hopes of returning to the top of the Premier League and delivered more evidence of vast improvement under new manager Jurgen Klopp with an emphatic victory at The Etihad.
Klopp’s side tore City apart with a dazzling first-half performance, which saw them take a 3-0 lead through Eliaquim Mangala’s early own goal and cool finishes from Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
Sergio Aguero gave City faint hope when he pulled a goal back on half time but City were undermined by shambolic defending as they failed to cope with the absence of injured captain Vincent Kompany.
Liverpool, however, never looked like conceding their advantage and Martin Skrtel’s thunderous late fourth confirmed their superiority as they added this fine away win to their recent victory at champions Chelsea.
The optimism engendered by Klopp’s arrival was punctured by Liverpool’s home defeat by Crystal Palace, but all the signs of what the former Borussia Dortmund coach wants from his side were on show here.
Liverpool put City under pressure in possession right away and it was not long before City’s impatient fans were getting stuck into their team for their inability to get the ball out of their own half.
The visitors were able to cut through City’s defence almost at will, with Klopp urging his players not to take a backward step as they went in search of what would be a highly impressive victory.
The contrast between the two managers could not have been starker. Klopp was all action and animation in his technical area while City counterpart Manuel Pellegrini stood motionless for much of the match, hands in his pockets or with arms folded in frustration. The body language reflected the performances of their teams.
Arsenal, who could have gone top themselves on Saturday, suffered a shock 2-1 loss away to West Bromwich Albion.
The Gunners took a 28th-minute lead through France striker Olivier Giroud but found themselves 2-1 down before halftime after James Morrison and an own-goal from Mikel Arteta put the Baggies in front.
Santi Cazorla had a chance to equalise late on but blasted a penalty over the crossbar.
Champions Chelsea eased the pressure on manager Jose Mourinho with just their fourth win in 13 league matches this season as they beat Norwich 1-0 thanks to Diego Costa’s 64th-minute goal at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United made it eight games unbeaten in all competitions with a 2-1 win away to Watford in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Watford captain Troy Deeney appeared to have gained a point for the home side with an 87th-minute penalty only to deflect Bastian Schewinsteiger’s stoppage-time effort into his own net after United had taken the lead through Memphis Depay.
Everton ensured Aston Villa stayed rooted to the foot of the table with a 4-0 win at Goodison Park.
Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku scored two goals each to leave French manager Remi Garde still searching for his first win as Villa boss.
Stoke striker Bojan Krkic gave his side a 1-0 win away to Southampton while Swansea came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home to Bournemouth, a heartening result for under-fire manager Garry Monk. — BBC Sport
