Tuesday April 30, 2024

Man City back to top of Premier League, Man Utd held by Bournemouth

Published : 14 Apr 2024, 10:33

  DF News Desk
Manchester City's Erling Haaland scores from a penalty kick during the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Luton Town in Manchester, Britain, April 13, 2024. Photo: Xinhua.

Manchester City crushed Luton Town 5-1 at home on Saturday, returning to the top of the Premier League and warming up for next week's Champions League quarterfinal return leg at home to Real Madrid, reported Xinhua.

City coach Pep Guardiola was able to rest players such as Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Rodrigo Hernandez and Jack Grealish, while Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake were both on the sub's bench after injury.

The game was one-way traffic from virtually start to finish. Just three minutes into the game, Erling Haaland's shot deflected off Daiki Hashioka and Mateo Kovacic doubled the lead with a thundering shot on 64 minutes.

Although Ross Barkley pulled a goal back for Luton with nine minutes left, Haaland made it 3-1 from the penalty spot, and Jeremy Doku and Josko Gvardiol scored late goals.

Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon both starred as Newcastle United kept their hopes of returning to Europe alive, while handing a heavy blow to Tottenham's chances of a top-four finish with a 4-0 win at St James' Park.

Gordon set up Isak for Newcastle's opening at the half-hour and added the second by himself two minutes later.

Isak scored his second of the game in the sixth minute of the second half after an assist from Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar rounded off the scoring three minutes from time.

Bruno Fernandes scored twice as Manchester United twice came from behind to draw 2-2 away to Bournemouth. Marcos Senesi set up Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert for Bournemouth's first-half goals, but Fernandes earned his side a point, although his second goal came from a very harsh handball against home defender, Ryan Christie.

A Matheus Cunha brace earned Wolverhampton Wanderers a draw 2-2 away to Nottingham Forest, who nevertheless move a point ahead of Luton in the struggle to avoid relegation.

The Brazilian scored a fine individual goal to open the scoring, but after Morgan Gibbs-White leveled for Forest against his former club, Danilo put the home side ahead in the second half, only for Cunha to score from close range after Matz Sels flapped at a corner.

Brentford earned some breathing space close to the bottom as an own goal from Oliver Arblaster, who turned a cross into his own net in the 63rd minute and Frank Onyeka's late effort, gave them a 2-0 win at home to Sheffield United.

The win lifts Brentford seven points clear of the bottom three, but leaves Sheffield looking doomed, 10 points from safety.

Burnley is the favorite to join Sheffield in returning to the Championship after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton.

Josh Brownhill gave the home fans hope when he opened the scoring in the 74th minute, but the celebrations only lasted the five minutes needed before Burnley goalkeeper, Aro Muric made a basic error in allowing a backpass to roll under his foot and into the goal.