Manchester City opened up a two-point lead over their neighbours Manchester United at the top of the Premier League on Saturday thanks to another display of scintillating brilliance in a 7-2 thrashing of Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium.
After the earlier high noon showdown between Liverpool and a United side lacking in any great ambition ended in goalless stalemate at Anfield, City cashed in with a third straight league match at the Etihad in which they have struck at least five goals.
Pep Guardiola's men became the first team to net 29 goals in their first eight league games of a top-flight campaign in England since Everton 1894-95.
Their sixth consecutive league win moved them to 22 points with United on 20 and Tottenham Hotspur staying third on 17 after finally earning their first home win at Wembley Stadium, 1-0 over Bournemouth with a Christian Eriksen goal.
Sensation of the day came at Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace, hitherto without a goal and point to their name, downed champions Chelsea 2-1 with Wilfried Zaha, returning from injury, their hero thanks to a brilliant goal just before the break.
Palace's new manager Roy Hodgson celebrated his first win in charge as the home side finally got in the scoresheet - a Cesar Azpilicueta own goal had given them an early lead before Tiemoue Bakayoko equalised - after 731 minutes without a league goal.
Yet the defeat left Chelsea nine points behind leaders City, whose current brand of kaleidoscopic football now makes them odds-on favourites to regain the title they last won in 2014.
Gabriel Jesus, with a brace, Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Fernandinho, Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva all found the target in the demolition of Stoke with the side now looking like a proper Guardiola creation.
The orchestrator of the exhilarating triumph did not even get on the scoresheet, but not for the first time this season Kevin de Bruyne was hailed the man of the match for his part in four of the goals.
"We didn't lose easy balls, we play fast and simple. That's why I am very pleased. It is the best performance since I am here," Guardiola told the BBC.
"He (De Bruyne) is one of the best by far, he is someone who produced a lot of actions. He is dynamic."
STARK CONTRAST
City's dazzle was a stark contrast to their neighbours' safety-first approach in the underwhelming Anfield game during which the only Manchester United highlight was David de Gea's great save to deny Joel Matip.
Liverpool, despite being much the better side, were blunt in attack, failing to convert any of their 19 attempts on goal.
"Manchester United came here for a point and got it," said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp with a sigh.
"It was a good performance, I thought worthy of three points. We were unlucky in at least two, maybe three situations."
Not that United's manager Jose Mourinho would entertain the idea of it having been a bit of an anti-climactic affair.
"It depends on what is an entertaining game," he said. "One thing is an entertaining game for fans, another thing is an entertaining game for people who read football in a different way.
"For me, the second half was a bit of chess but my opponent didn't open the door for me to win the game."
Chris Wood earned an 85th-minute equaliser for Burnley in a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man West Ham United, who had Andy Carroll sent off in the 27th minute after a couple of elbowing offences earned him two yellow cards.
Swansea City forged clear of the relegation zone with only their second league win of the season, a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.
Reuters
Sun Oct 15 2017
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva scores their seventh goal. - Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Microsoft OneDrive versi web kini sokong mod luar talian
Mod ini membenarkan pengguna yang kekangan akses Internet untuk mengakses Home, My files, Shared, Favorites, People, dan Meeting dengan lebih mudah.
Pantau Agenda Reformasi: Tidak cukup belajar di sekolah?
Benarkah kanak-kanak Malaysia tak cukup belajar sedangkan jadual pembelajaran yang panjang di sekolah ketika guru turut terbabit dalam banyak program babitkan pelajar?
Dr Anuar Ahmad, Pensyarah Kanan Pusat Kajian Kepelbagaian Pendidikan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Dr Anuar Ahmad, Pensyarah Kanan Pusat Kajian Kepelbagaian Pendidikan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Ekonomi Asia Pasifik dijangka alami pemulihan bertahap - IMF
Walaupun ekonomi rantau Asia Pasifik berkembang 5 peratus tahun lepas, pertumbuhan dijangka perlahan kepada 4.5 peratus tahun ini dan 4.3 peratus pada 2025.
Tinjauan EY: Gen Z, milenial sanggup berbelanja untuk produk mampan
: Tinjauan itu mendapati sebanyak 81 peratus daripada pengguna tenaga di Malaysia yakin mereka melaksanakan tanggungjawab untuk menggalakkan kemampanan, 85 peratus percaya bahawa penyedia tenaga bertanggungjawab untuk menguruskan penggunaan tenaga mampan, manakala 31 peratus tidak bersedia untuk berbelanja lebih tinggi untuk produk mampan.
Nestle Malaysia: Saham meningkat kepada paras tertinggi lapan bulan
Tinjauan itu mendapati sebanyak 81 peratus daripada pengguna tenaga di Malaysia yakin mereka melaksanakan tanggungjawab untuk menggalakkan kemampanan, 85 peratus percaya bahawa penyedia tenaga bertanggungjawab untuk menguruskan penggunaan tenaga mampan, manakala 31 peratus tidak bersedia untuk berbelanja lebih tinggi untuk produk mampan.
Sime Darby Plantation cadang tukar nama kepada SD Guthrie
Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SD Plantation) mengumumkan hasrat untuk menukar nama jenamanya kepada SD Guthrie Bhd.
Trend harga di Malaysia makin mahal - Inflasi, indeks harga pengeluar naik pada Feb dan Mac - DOSM
Trend harga di Malaysia memperlihatkan peningkatan inflasi 1.8% pada Februari 2024 selepas tiga bulan berturut-turut dilaporkan pada kadar 1.5 peratus.
Aset rizab rasmi Malaysia berjumlah AS$113.76 bilion
BNM berkata bagi tempoh 12 bulan akan datang, aliran keluar jangka pendek yang telah dikenal pasti bagi pinjaman, sekuriti dan deposit mata wang asing termasuk aliran keluar jangka pendek ini termasuk pembayaran balik berjadual peminjaman luar negara oleh kerajaan dan kematangan Bil Antara Bank dalam mata wang asing Bank Negara berjumlah US$13.24 bilion.
[TERKINI] Lima cedera dalam serangan bersenjata di London
Lima individu cedera dalam satu insiden serangan bersenjata di London pada pagi Selasa.
Pihak berkuasa memberitahu, seorang lelaki berusia 36 tahun ditahan kerana dipercayai melakukan serangan menggunakan pedang itu.
Pihak berkuasa memberitahu, seorang lelaki berusia 36 tahun ditahan kerana dipercayai melakukan serangan menggunakan pedang itu.
Lelaki berpedang serang orang awam di London, lima cedera
Satu serangan bersenjatakan pedang dilapor berlaku berdekatan stesen keretapi bawah tanah di Hainault, timur laut London, menyebabkan sekurang-kurangnya lima cedera akibat ditikam.
EPL: Man United sama hebat dengan skuad tercorot liga
Penjaga gol Manchester United, Andre Onana menjadi punca buat pasukannya kehilangan kemenangan menentang Burnley.
EPL: "Ada sesiapa jangka kami bakal muncul juara?"
Klopp belum sedia nilai musim terakhir bersama Liverpool.
EPL: Manchester City himpit Arsenal
Gawang The Seagulls robek lagi kali ini menerusi bintang meningkat naik Phil Foden dengan gol pada minit ke-26 dan 34.
EPL: Pertahan teman wanita, Rice buktikan masih wujud lelaki budiman
Pemain tengah Arsenal Declan Rice memuji teman wanita Lauren Fryer dan mempertahankannya selepas beberapa kumpulan pembenci memalukannya.
Van Dijk mahu pemain Liverpool lihat cermin
Gol setiap babak bermula dengan minit ke-27 diikuti minit ke-58 juga menyaksikan peluang Liverpool untuk merangkul kejuaraan EPL semakin samar.
EPL: Dua bintang remaja ditahan kerana disyaki merogol
Dua pemain bola sepak Liga Perdana Inggeris telah ditangkap pada hujung minggu kerana disyaki merogol dan melakukan serangan.
EPL: Ten Hag anggap reaksi ke atas kemenangan MU umpama 'penghinaan'
Kemenangan yang diraih MU bukan sesautu yang memalukan, reaksi sesetengah pihak berlebihan, bidas Ten Hag.
EPL: Kai Havertz pastikan Arsenal menang bergaya tewaskan Chelsea
Kemenangan itu meletakkan Arsenal tiga mata di hadapan Liverpool yang kini berada di tangga kedua dengan bermain lebih satu perlawanan.
Perkara mungkin berbeza di Man Utd andai Mourinho terima sokongan seperti Ten Hag
Jose Mourinho percaya kerjayanya di Manchester United mungkin lebih berjaya sekiranya dia diberi kepercayaan yang sama seperti Erik ten Hag.
Mourinho dikaitkan jadi jurulatih Liverpool
Kehadiran Mourinho itu menyebabkan peminat Liverpool mula membincangkan kemungkinan pengurus Portugal itu menggantikan Jurgen Klopp.