This win saw them move to within a point of United and go seven points clear of Liverpool
Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, left, celebrates with teammates Jesus Navas and Yaya Toure, right, after scoring against West Ham United (Photo: AP)
London: Manchester City strengthened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-0 win at home to West Ham on Sunday but at the cost of seeing David Silva carried off on a stretcher. The influential Spanish playmaker was on the receiving end of what appeared to be an accidental elbow from West Ham’s Cheikhou Kouyate midway through the second half and needed lengthy treatment on the field before being taken off the field amid concerns he might miss the rest of the season.
Reigning champions City’s hopes of a successful title defence were all but over before last week’s 2-4 derby defeat by Manchester United.But this win saw them move to within a point of United and, significantly, go seven clear of fifth-placed Liverpool.City went ahead in the 18th minute when West Ham defender James Collins sliced Jesus Navas’s cross over the head of goalkeeper Adrian, the ball bouncing off the underside of the crossbar for a spectacular own-goal.
But there was no denying the quality of City’s second, which came nine minutes before half-time, with winger Navas again a key figure in the build-up.Yaya Toure won the ball from West Ham and Stewart Downing launch a rapid counter-attack. Sergio Aguero took the ball forward and then exchanged passes with Navas, before sliding a precise shot under Adrian.
Hazard fires Blues closer to title
Chelsea went 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League table after a 1-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday as Leicester moved off the bottom of the table. Eden Hazard scored the only goal of the game at Stamford Bridge to leave Jose Mourinho’s side in sight of their first English title since 2010.The Belgium midfielder scored the only goal of the game in the 38th minute when he placed a low shot past United goalkeeper David de Gea after Oscar had back-heeled the ball into his path.
Chelsea will be champions if they win their next two matches, against second-placed Arsenal and Leicester.“I feel we are almost there, but there are no ‘almosts’ in football. But our situation is very good,” said Chelsea manager Mourinho.
( Source : AFP )
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