Chelsea, City win as Spurs slip again

Manchester City brushed aside in-form Crystal Palace 2-0 on Saturday while Tottenham narrowly avoided an embarrassing home defeat to bottom club Watford on a night that saw Chelsea and Leicester win.

Pep Guardiola’s defending champions travelled to Palace with questions over their ability to sustain a title challenge after two defeats in four league games but produced some incisive football to narrow the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to five points.

City were rewarded for their dominance in the 39th minute when Bernardo Silva whipped in a left-footed cross. Gabriel Jesus shaped to head the ball but it came off his shoulder and crept into the net off the far post past a rooted Wayne Hennessey. They doubled their lead just two minutes later following a speedy counter-attack, culminating in David Silva’s goal.

Liverpool travel to Old Trafford on Sunday, chasing a record-equalling 18th consecutive Premier League win while United are just one point above the relegation zone.

Earlier, Chelsea’s Marcus Alonso broke the deadlock for Frank Lampard’s side at Stamford Bridge against Newcastle for a 1-0 win while Youri Tielemans sealed a 2-1 victory for Leicester over Burnley at the King Power Stadium.

But Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino saw his side labour to a 1-1 draw at home to Watford, following a 3-0 thrashing at Brighton and a 7-2 humiliation at home to Bayern Munich.

Spurs, who reached the Champions League final in June, have now won just three of their opening 12 games in all competitions and appear unable to find their spark.

Leicester are third in the table, seven points behind leaders Liverpool, while Chelsea, also on 17 points, were fourth.