Manchester City continued to put pressure on leaders Arsenal by beating its guest Leicester City 3-1 today, Saturday, in the 31st round of the English Premier League, while the loss of Newcastle and Tottenham opened the door for Manchester United to enhance its chances of participating in the Champions League next season.
City raised its tally to 70 points, compared to 73 for Arsenal, who will be visiting neighbors West Ham on Sunday.
And 4 minutes following the start of the match, defender John Stones opened the scoring for City with a high shot that went into the top corner of the net.
Stones “on the fly” opens the City goal counter #English _ League #beINPL #MNCLEI pic.twitter.com/UbkaSXV8av
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) April 15, 2023
Then the referee awarded a penalty kick to City following a handball inside the area, which was successfully awarded by the giant Norwegian striker Erling Haaland in the 13th minute.
Haaland equals Mohamed Salah’s number
And soon Halland added the third goal when he received a front ball from Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, and walked with it a few meters before hitting the net in the 25th minute.
Haaland, with his 31st goal, equaled the record for the number of goals scored in one season, which includes 38 matches, to share it with Egyptian Mohamed Salah, Liverpool striker, in the 2017-2018 season.
As for the absolute record in the Premier League, it is 34 goals scored by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer when the league included 42 matches, and Halland raised his score this season to 47 goals in various competitions.
Erling Haaland has now 47 goals in 40 games as Manchester City player this season — and it’s 32 goals in Premier League. ????✨ #MCFC pic.twitter.com/jJO3Ko5syE
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 15, 2023
City coach Pep Guardiola decided to rest Haaland between the two halves, in preparation for the return match once morest Bayern scheduled for next Wednesday, and he hired Argentine striker Julian Alvarez.
In general, the guests remained in control in the second half, at a time when Guardiola brought out his best players in succession, before Leicester scored an honorary goal by Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho, former City striker, in the 75th minute.
Losing Newcastle, Tottenham and Chelsea
And at Villa Park, Aston Villa put an end to a series of 5 consecutive victories for Newcastle when it dropped its guest 3-0.
Newcastle has not competed in the Champions League since the 2002-2003 season, and aspires to return to the competition following the Saudi acquisition in October 2021 and the arrival of coach Eddie Howe at the end of the same year.
Newcastle’s balance froze at 56 points in third place, which might be relinquished if Manchester United tied or won at Nottingham Forest tomorrow, Sunday.
And in north London, Bournemouth achieved a heavy-caliber surprise by dropping Tottenham at home 3-2, to make it difficult for him to participate in the Champions League.
Controversy over the validity of the goal, as the shot was in the direction of Harry Kane offside.
Have you seen a similar shot? Do you think the goal is correct?#English _ League #beINPL pic.twitter.com/iOazQLCZaD
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) April 15, 2023
Tottenham remained fifth with 53 points, but he played two more matches than Newcastle and Manchester United, noting that he will face Newcastle in the next stage.
In light of the struggle between Manchester City and Arsenal for the league title, other teams are competing for the last two qualifying seats for the major continental competition.
Chelsea continued its poor performances, despite the appointment of a new coach, Frank Lampard, who lost his first 3 matches with his former team, and the last was today at home to Brighton 1-2.
