London: Leicester City’s unlikely assault on a first Premier League title gathered more momentum with a ruthless 3-1 demolition of Manchester City at the Etihad to go five points clear at the top.
Defender Robert Huth scored twice and Algerian magician Riyad Mahrez fired in his 14th league goal of the season as Leicester sent a clear message of intent to those who still doubt they have the quality to become champions.
Tottenham Hotspur moved above Manchester City into second place, Kieran Trippier scoring the goal in a 1-0 win over Watford at White Hart Lane.
Leicester, complete outsiders at the start of the season, have 53 points from 25 games. Spurs are on 48, one ahead of City with Arsenal, playing away at Bournemouth on Sunday, on 45.
Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester face Arsenal next weekend and the Italian said all the pressure was on the league’s big guns in the most unpredictable of seasons.
“We know it’s a crazy league. We have to try in this crazy league but there are some big teams who have to win,” he said.
“The spirit in the team is fantastic, but I’ve said this from my first moment here in Leicester.”
Newcastle United clawed their way out of the relegation zone with Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring in a 1-0 home victory over West Bromwich Albion. Newcastle moved above Norwich City who dropped into the bottom three after a 2-0 defeat at basement side Aston Villa.
Sunderland, in 19th place, scored twice in the final eight minutes to draw 2-2 at Liverpool while Everton struck three times in the first half on the way to a comfortable 3-0 win at Stoke City.
Adam Johnson and Jermain Defoe scored in the last eight minutes to earn relegation-threatened Sunderland an unlikely 2-2 draw.
On an afternoon which saw thousands of home fans walk out of Anfield late in the second half in a protest over ticket prices, Liverpool had led 2-0 with goals from Roberto Firmino (59) and Adam Lallana (70).
Firmino headed in at the back post from James Milner’s cross and the Brazilian then turned provider for Lallana to make it 2-0, which looked to have provided a tonic for Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who was absent after suffering suspected appendicitis.
et Johnson pulled one back on the 82nd minute when goalkeeper Simon Mignolet allowed his freekick to squirm past him and Defoe completed a fine fightback when he turned and smashed home a minute from time.
ystal Palace ended a run of five successive league defeats with a 1-1 draw at Swansea to deny Francesco Guidolin victory in his first home game in charge of the Premier League strugglers.
Palace, who have taken just three points from the last 24 available, secured a draw with Scott Dann’s goal early in the second half.
Gylfi Sigurdsson had fired the home side ahead after 13 minutes, scoring with a fine free kick that he bent over the wall and into the net. It was his fifth goal in his last six Premier League appearances.
The Icelander almost won it for the Swans, but Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey dived at full stretch to keep out another free kick.
(Reuters)
