Man Utd into top four as Premier League welcomes back fans – World Soccer Talk

London (AFP) – Manchester United roared back to beat West Ham 3-1 on Saturday and climb into the top four of the Premier League as fans returned to the English top-flight for the first time in nine months.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men fell behind at the London Stadium but a three-goal blitz from Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford turned the tables at the London Stadium.

United, who have won nine successive league games on the road, are now fourth in the table, one point ahead of Manchester City, who earlier cruised past Fulham 2-0.

United, who started with Bruno Fernandes and Rashford on the bench, were second best in the first half and fell behind to a Tomas Soucek goal seven minutes before half-time.

But, with 2,000 fans inside the ground, Solskjaer threw on Rashford and Fernandes for the start of the second half and United were a changed side.

Pogba equalised in the 65th minute with a superb strike from distance and minutes later United were ahead, Greenwood turning and firing home in the area.

Rashford struck a post as United looked to extend their lead, and it was the England striker who made it 3-1 12 minutes from time.

– City cruise –

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have had a patchy start to the season but are now just three points behind leaders Tottenham after a dominant display at the Etihad.

City, who had won just four of their opening nine matches, are showing ominous signs they are returning to their best form after building on their 5-0 mauling of Burnley last week.

They made a superb start at the Etihad, with Raheem Sterling putting them ahead inside five minutes to end his recent goal drought.

The England forward, who had already had one shot saved by Alphonse Areola, raced through on goal from a measured Kevin De Bruyne pass and calmly side-footed into the far corner.

De Bruyne, in Guardiola’s 700th game as a manager, doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Sterling was brought down by Joachim Andersen.

The Belgian rattled the bar early in the second half as City continued to dominate but they could not add to their lead.

“We struggled at the beginning of the season for many reasons,” Guardiola told the BBC, bemoaning his side’s wastefulness in front of goal.

“Now four games, four clean sheets. It’s so important for us to maintain this solidity.”

“This season looks like there will be a lot of teams in contention,” he added. “Everyone can beat everyone. In this month it was important to get qualification for the Champions League, now we focus on the Premier League. It will be a long season.”

Earlier, Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his 11th Premier League goal of the season to rescue a point for Everton in a 1-1 draw against struggling Burnley.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side trailed at Turf Moor after a fine strike by midfielder Robbie Brady before England forward Calvert-Lewin levelled on the stroke of half-time.

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