MANCHESTER, Jan 23: Man City dropping points. Newcastle winning a game. A drone stopping play.
There were plenty of unusual occurrences in the Premier League on Saturday, even if a late, late winner by Manchester United at Old Trafford felt ever so familiar.
Few could have expected City to fail to win at Southampton, with a 1-1 draw ending the leaders’ 12-match winning run that stretched back to Oct. 30. City is ahead of Liverpool by 12 points but the Reds have played two games fewer.
Before a 1-0 win at Leeds, Newcastle’s only previous victory in its 23 games in all competitions this season was against Burnley on Dec. 4.
Also, Wolverhampton beat Brentford 2-1. In other games, Marcus Rashford scored in the third and final minute of stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 win for United against West Ham, lifting the team to fourth place. Aston Villa won 1-0 at Everton.
Man City needed a 65th-minute header by Aymeric Laporte to earn a point at St. Mary’s, after Southampton took the lead through Kyle Walker-Peters in the seventh. Kevin De Bruyne, who supplied the cross for Laporte’s goal, and substitute Gabriel Jesus hit the same post in the second half for City.
Newcastle is heading to Saudi Arabia during the winter break on the back of a big win in its fight for survival. Jonjo Shelvey’s low, curling free kick flew past a slew of outstretched legs in the area and squeezed into the far corner of the net in the 75th minute at Elland Road.
Eddie Howe’s team is only one point from safety with a game in hand.
Man United ended the game against West Ham with four strikers on the field in something of a throwback to better days at the club under Alex Ferguson. Much to Ralf Rangnick’s delight, they combined for the clinching goal that came so late it was almost in what was once known as “Fergie Time.”
After the ball broke free, Cristiano Ronaldo passed the ball forward to one sub, Anthony Martial, who slipped in another, Edinson Cavani, who crossed for another, Rashford, to tap home.
Lucas Digne had an eventful return to Goodison Park. Barely a week after leaving Everton, the France left back was back at his former club with Aston Villa and set up the winning goal for his new team. Digne’s inswinging corner was glanced by Emi Buendia in first-half stoppage time for what proved to be the only goal.
In other games, Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1, Arsenal were held 0-0 by Burnley and Leicester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at home. (AP)
