By Martyn Herman
Aug 19 (Reuters) – Premier League champions Manchester Metropolis racked up a club-record seventeenth successive dwelling win in all competitions however needed to graft to a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday.
An excellent strike from Julian Alvarez sealed the factors for Pep Guardiola’s facet, however the aid they confirmed on the closing whistle mentioned loads a few sturdy Newcastle show.
Metropolis’s win lifted them to 6 factors from two video games alongside Brighton and Hove Albion who earlier within the day thumped Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 away.
Manchester United had been unable to hitch Metropolis and Brighton on the prime of the fledgling desk although as they went all the way down to a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in what was Ange Postecoglou’s first dwelling recreation accountable for the London membership.
Liverpool got here from a objective all the way down to beat Bournemouth 3-1 though ended the sport with 10 males after Alexis Mac Allister was proven a pink card on his dwelling debut.
Brentford at the moment are unbeaten in 11 successive London derbies after they cruised to a 3-0 win at Fulham who additionally completed with 10 males after Tim Ream was despatched off after conceding a penalty.
Manchester Metropolis made gentle of the absence of Kevin de Bruyne, who had surgical procedure this week after damaging a hamstring within the 3-0 opening win over Burnley.
Of their first dwelling recreation since clinching the treble final season, Metropolis’s gorgeous feat was honoured in grand trend earlier than kickoff at The Etihad Stadium.
Metropolis shall be contending for a number of trophies once more this season, however Newcastle confirmed why Guardiola has tipped them to be amongst the contenders for his or her Premier League crown.
That mentioned, Metropolis had been comfortably the higher facet within the opening half during which Alvarez broke the impasse with a strong strike within the thirty first minute after being picked out by Phil Foden.
Newcastle grew in perception after the break however they found that for all Metropolis’s attacking attributes, in addition they possess one of many tightest rearguards in Europe and Eddie Howe’s facet might discover no approach by way of to objective.
“There was a second round 60-70 minutes in and I assumed we might get management however they’re an excellent group and performed by way of the press a couple of occasions,” Howe mentioned.
“They strangle you with the ball to a level. You tire your self out getting it again and with fatigue the choice making goes barely.”
Tottenham continued to banish the clouds of gloom that had preceded the brand new marketing campaign as they proved there may be life after Harry Kane with a vibrant show in opposition to a sloppy United.
Pape Matar Sarr’s maiden Premier League objective, struck excessive into the online from a deflected cross simply after halftime, and a late personal objective by Lisandro Martinez sealed the victory which gave Tottenham 4 factors from two video games.
“We need to entertain for positive however when it comes to being profitable,” Postecoglou mentioned. “The ambiance was unimaginable at this time. The vitality the followers created was wonderful.”
Brighton’s spectacular begin to the season continued and they’re main Man Metropolis on objective distinction after crushing Wolves with three objectives arriving in a devastating nine-minute spell within the second half in opposition to pointless Wolves.
Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring for Brighton within the fifteenth minute with a sensational solo objective and he turned supplier within the first minute of the second half to arrange Pervis Estupinan.
Solly March then scored twice in 4 minutes, with Julio Enciso aiding him on each events.
Liverpool beat Bournemouth 9-0 a yr in the past however they discovered the south coast membership a more durable nut to crack this time.
They went behind to an Antoine Semenyo objective however replied with objectives from Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota.
The gloss was taken off although as Mac Allister was despatched off for a excessive deal with.
“Horrible begin to the sport,” Liverpool supervisor Juergen Klopp mentioned. “We wanted a couple of minutes to shake it off after which we had been actually good.”
Bryan Mbeumo scored twice and Yoane Wissa was additionally on course as Brentford received the higher of Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Fulham misplaced Ream when he conceded the penalty within the 63rd minute that allowed Brentford to go 2-0 up. “The sport was completed from that second,” Fulham boss Marco Silva mentioned.
West Ham United face Chelsea on Sunday with Aston Villa at dwelling to Everton — all 4 sides in search of a primary win. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Enhancing by Hugh Lawson)
