On an eventful Saturday in the Premier League filled with late goals, Manchester City’s win against Crystal Palace coupled with Liverpool’s draw with Southampton meant that Pep Guardiola’s side went to the top of the table, tied with Jurgen Klopp’s men on points and goal difference, at least till Chelsea kicks off against Middlesbrough on Sunday evening.

Harry Kane and Tottenham added to Slaven Bilic’s woes after Spurs turned what looked like a certain defeat into an implausible victory in the last minutes of the game with a quickfire double from the Englishman pushing the North Londoners to within a point of Arsenal and fourth place.

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Yaya Toure inspires on return

The 33-year old Ivory Coast midfielder returned in style to the Manchester City squad, scoring two goals to inspire his team to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to give City a temporary share of the lead at the top of the table.

City took the lead through Toure in the first half when the midfielder exchanged passes with Nolito only to drive his shot home, beating Wayne Hennessey at his near post.

Crystal Palace took the attack to City in the second half and their determination paid off when substitute Connor Wickham lashed home past Claudio Bravo to draw the home team level.

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Toure and City had the last laugh when the ex-Barcelona man was unmarked from a corner and De Bruyne’s low delivery was tapped in seven minutes from time to give City the win and three points.

Saints hang on for draw

Despite Liverpool’s efforts to blow down the door at St. Mary’s, the Southampton defence held firm and clung on to a goalless draw with the away side fashioning the better chances.

Top of the table for the first time in two and a half years, the visitors came into the game in good form, hoping to extend their lead.

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Sadio Mane had Fraser Forster scrambling with a rasping shot, but the Saints keeper was up to it as he frustrated Liverpool all evening long. With Phillipe Coutinho through on goal, the Brazilian was unable to convert as Jose Fonte backtracked in time to prevent Liverpool from taking the lead.

Tottenham leave it late

Spurs got the better of West Ham in a five-goal thriller at White Hart Lane; Harry Kane stroking home a penalty in the 92nd minute.

Michail Antonio put the Hammers ahead with another headed goal, this time from Winston Reid’s cross-cum-shot after a Dimitri Payet corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble.

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Debutant Harry Winks scored on his debut after Vincent Janssen’s shot was parried by Darren Randolph straight to the young Englishman who made no mistake.


Janssen was at the wrong end for the next goal as the Dutchman pulled Reid inside the box to concede a penalty, which Manuel Lanzini duly converted to give the away side the lead once again.

It was substitute Heung Min-Son who turned the game around for Spurs when the South Korean crossed the ball for Kane to tap it in from close range in the 89th minute. Son was again in the thick of things as he was pulled down in the box by Havard Nordveidt; Kane making no mistake with the resulting spot-kick.

The Scores:

  • Manchester United 1 (Juan Mata) draw with Arsenal 1 (Olivier Giroud)
  • Crystal Palace 1 (Connor Wickham) lose to Manchester City 2 (Yaya Toure X 2)
  • Everton 1 (Seamus Coleman) draw with Swansea City 1 (Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty)
  • Stoke City 0 lose to AFC Bournemouth 1 (Nathan Ake)
  • Sunderland 3 (Jermain Defoe, Victor Anichebe X 2) beat Hull City 0
  • Watford 2 (Etienne Capoue, Roberto Pereyra) beat Leicester City 1 (Riyad Mahrez penalty)
  • Tottenham Hotspurs 2 (Harry Winks, Harry Kane X 2, 1 penalty) beat West Ham United 2 (Michail Antonio, Manuel Lanzini penalty)