LONDON: Raheem Sterling scored the first goal of the Premier
League's return to action after the coronavirus lockdown as Manchester City
defeated Arsenal 3-0 behind closed doors at the Etihad stadium on Wednesday
night.
The result means Liverpool, whose lead has been cut to 22 points by second-placed City, cannot now win the title on Sunday at Everton in the Merseyside derby.
But the league table was far from the minds of the few people inside the stadium at kickoff time, with a minute's silence for victims of the coronavirus followed by the players and officials taking a knee in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
Sterling, a prominent supporter of the movement whose slogan featured on the players' shirts, fired home on the stroke of halftime to put the hosts ahead.
City had threatened on several occasions to provide the first goal of "Project Restart" with Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno saving efforts from Sterling and David Silva and racing out to foil Riyad Mahrez.
The goal came after Arsenal substitute David Luiz failed to deal with a ball into the box and allowed Sterling in on goal, and the Brazilian was at fault again for City's second.
Mahrez got the wrong side of Luiz as he burst into the box and the ex-Chelsea defender put his hand on the Algerian's back. Referee Anthony Taylor ruled he had pushed him to the ground, awarding a penalty and sending off Luiz.
Kevin De Bruyne confidently converted the spot-kick and City never looked in any danger against opponents reduced to 10 men.
City also ended the game with 10 players when Spanish defender Eric Garcia was carried off on a stretcher after a collision with his keeper Ederson. City were not able to replace him as manager Pep Guardiola had used all five available substitutes.
Guardiola's side wrapped up the win in stoppage time when Sergio Aguero hit the post, after a neat exchange with Sterling, and substitute Phil Foden slotted home the loose ball.
Arsenal's Brazilian defender Luiz blamed himself for his team's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday in which he was sent-off in the 49th minute.
Luiz, whose contract with the club runs out at the end of the month, came on as a 24th minute substitute for the injured Pablo Mari but endured a dreadful night.
The central defender was at fault for Raheem Sterling's opener just before the interval and then gave away the penalty for the second goal four minutes after the restart.
Not only did Luiz's mistake cost a goal, with Kevin De Bruyne scoring from the spot, but his expulsion, for the foul on Riyad Mahrez, left his team a man down for the remainder of the game.
Aston Villa and Sheffield United played out a goalless draw on Wednesday with strong statements against racism and an embarrassing failure of goalline technology. Agencies