PEP GUARDIOLA

Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester City players celebrate with trophy after winning the 2022 English Premier League title at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 22, 2022. The jeopardy was still there — with Andy Robertson sealing Liverpool's 3-1 win — while City would have conceded the title had it conceded a late equalizer. “He came on and changed the whole game,” City midfielder Phil Foden said. In the last five seasons, the only time City didn’t win the trophy was when Liverpool’s 30-year title drought ended in 2020. “Tomorrow we can celebrate together in the Manchester streets with cigars and beers,” the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach said after winning a 10th league title in management.

Manchester City has successfully defended its Premier League title by beating Aston Villa 3-2 on the final day of the season.

Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola and his teammates celebrate after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 22, 2022. Manchester City won the match against Aston Villa and secured the 2022 Premier League title. At one point even when City was losing, it was still set to defend the title as Liverpool was only drawing 1-1 to Wolverhampton. Although it went down to the wire, this one came without any of the anguish of 10 years ago when City’s first Premier League title was only clinched in the final minutes of the season. The rise of City has coincided with the retirement of the Scot — who won the Premier League 13 times from 1993 to 2013 — and the decline of Manchester United.

Manchester City has clinched a sixth Premier League title in 11 seasons.

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (Kirsty Wigglesworth)Manchester City has history on its side ahead of the final-day title showdown with Liverpool in the English Premier League. Sunday will mark the ninth time in the Premier League era — since 1992 — that the title race has been decided in the last round. 1998-99Another title for Man United, which needed to come from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 at home and hold off Arsenal by a point. 2007-08Both Man United and Chelsea entered the final day on 84 points, with United leading on goal difference. 2009-10Chelsea left nothing to chance in its bid to stay ahead of Man United and end its rival's three-season reign as champion.

Manchester City has history on its side ahead of the final-day title showdown with Liverpool in the English Premier League.

A dramatic penalty save might have kept the Premier League title race alive.

Manchester City has agreed to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

The 3-1 victory over Manchester City gave Madrid yet another comeback and set it up for a showdown with Liverpool in the Champions League final on May 28 in Paris. City was moments away from returning to the final before the substitute forward stunned the English team with his back-to-back goals, inspiring Madrid to victory like a bruised boxer who lands a knockout combination. Madrid, which had trailed City ever since minute 2 of their first-leg match in Manchester, was finally level. City entered the second leg against Madrid with the advantage after coming out on top of their 4-3 shootout last week. “A big amount of merit goes to the players and also a fanbase who push and push and push.

Real Madrid had little reason to hope it could pull off another comeback as the game entered the final minute with Manchester City on the brink of consecutive Champions League finals.

Real Madrid has done it again.

(AP Photo/Dave Thompson) (Dave Thompson)MANCHESTER, England — (AP) — It was the coolest of penalties at the end of one of the wildest matches in Champions League history. With his cheekily dispatched “Panenka,” Karim Benzema might just have kept Real Madrid's chances alive against Manchester City in the semifinals. City built a two-goal lead three times but just couldn’t shake off Madrid, the kings of the competition — as City manager Pep Guardiola calls them. “We are all in this until the end.”With the France striker in its team, Madrid will never lose hope. His double here — after back-to-back hat tricks earlier in the knockout stage — took his total in the Champions League this season to a competition-high 14 goals.

Manchester City just couldn’t shake off Real Madrid in the Champions League.

The tame back pass from John Stones trickled toward Zack Steffen. Just a simple clearance was needed by Manchester City’s backup goalkeeper with Liverpool already leading. Before the ball could be hoofed clear, Sadio Mane raced into the penalty area and slid in to nudge the ball over the line.

Britain Soccer Premier League Liverpool's Sadio Mane, front, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Liverpool, at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, April 10, 2022. The destination of the Premier League title does, though, remain in Manchester City’s hands. A point still separates City from Liverpool at the top of the standings after the meeting of England’s best two teams ended 2-2 for the second time this season on Sunday. The Premier League and Champions League remain the bigger targets for the greatest rivals of this English era. FIRST GOALKiernan Dewsbury-Hall, a 23-year-old Leicester academy graduate, scored his first Premier League goal after assisting Ademola Lookman’s opener to clinch a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

The destination of the Premier League title is in leader Manchester City’s hands after a 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

Golfweek's Steve DiMeglio shares what he saw from golf legend Tiger Woods during a practice round ahead of the Masters at Augusta National.

Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola sits on the bench before the Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor, in Burnley, England, Saturday, April 2, 2022. A clash of styles soon took hold in Spain, when Simeone moved back to Europe to become coach of Atlético Madrid in 2011 — a few months after Barcelona won the Champions League for the second time and in mesmeric fashion. City and Atlético go head-to-head in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday — a first competitive meeting between the teams, if not the men leading them. It’s one of Guardiola’s many painful exits in the Champions League since his last title, in 2011. The only other time Guardiola and Simeone faced each other was in February 2012, a few months before Guardiola quit Barcelona.

There will be a clash of styles on show when Manchester City and Atlético Madrid meet in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Liverpool completed its 119-day mission to displace Manchester City from atop the English Premier League but it lasted only a matter of hours.

Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola, center, reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park stadium in London, Monday, March 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (Matt Dunham)LONDON — (AP) — Manchester City gave Liverpool further hope in the English Premier League title race on Monday by stumbling against Crystal Palace for the second time this season. A 0-0 draw at an atmospheric Selhurst Park extended City’s lead to four points but second-placed Liverpool has a game in hand in its quest to reclaim the title from Pep Guardiola’s team. Palace has taken four points off City this season, having beaten the champions 2-0 away on Oct. 30 — the last time they failed to score in the league. ___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Manchester City has given Liverpool further hope in the English Premier League title race by stumbling against Crystal Palace for the second time this season.

Manchester City has completed the double over Manchester United with a second derby win of the Premier League season.

Don’t expect Leeds to look markedly different under the leadership of new American coach Jesse Marsch following his arrival at the struggling English Premier League club as the replacement for the fired Marcelo Bielsa.

Marcelo Bielsa has been fired by Leeds after another heavy loss dropped the team to within two points of the Premier League relegation zone.

The Premier League title race really is back on and it’s all because of Harry Kane.

Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester City players celebrate at full time after defeating Chelsea during an English Premier League soccer match at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson) (Dave Thompson)For Pep Guardiola, the biggest challenge now will be convincing his Manchester City players the English Premier League title race is not over. “To try not to believe what other people are going to say.”With City holding a 13-point lead, it's hardly surprising that people have already basically handed Guardiola's relentless team a sixth title in 11 seasons. Liverpool, in third place 14 points behind having played two games fewer, looks to be the only team realistically capable of stopping City. COUTINHO THWARTS UNITEDPhilippe Coutinho marked his debut for Aston Villa with a late equalizer to complete a dramatic comeback in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United, for whom Bruno Fernandes scored twice to put the visitors 2-0 ahead.

Pep Guardiola's biggest challenge now might be convincing his Manchester City players the English Premier League title race is not over.

Rodri scored a stoppage-time winner to complete Manchester City's comeback to win 2-1 at Arsenal and move the champions 11 points in front of second-place Chelsea at the top of the standings.

(AP Photo/Ian Walton) (Ian Walton)Manchester City's grip on its Premier League title hasn't been this strong all season. It has been an almost perfect 24 hours for City, which saw Liverpool — another rival for the title — surprisingly lose 1-0 at injury-hit Leicester on Tuesday. "There are 54 points still to play for.”Yet City is even winning when not playing its best. CHELSEA DENIEDIt's three draws in four league matches for Chelsea, whose strong early-season form has disappeared. Tuchel sounded like he has given up on winning the title, given the number of his players out through injury and illness.

Manchester City’s grip on its Premier League title hasn’t been this strong all season.

Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores his side's fourth goal, during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle and Manchester City at St. James' Park, Newcastle, England, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) (Owen Humphreys)LONDON — (AP) — Chelsea complained about having to play with a coronavirus-depleted squad in drawing at Wolverhampton. And Manchester City just strolled further in front at the top of the Premier League. CITY RAMPANTAn eighth straight league win for City was started by defender Ciaran Clark allowing Ruben Dias to head in the opener at Newcastle before Joao Cancelo struck powerfully. It was City's 34th league victory in 2021, surpassing the previous calendar year record in England set by Liverpool in 1982.

Chelsea complained about having to play with a coronavirus-depleted squad in drawing 0-0 at Wolverhampton.

Eric Bailly scored an own-goal in the seventh minute and Bernardo Silva beat David de Gea at his near post in first-half stoppage time as Manchester City won 2-0 at Manchester United.

West Ham has an unusual situation on its hands.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær has celebrated a vital win with Manchester United after doubts were raised about his future.

Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, center right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (Frank Augstein)LONDON — (AP) — After all those doubts about his future at Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjær achieved what Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp couldn’t do on Saturday: Win in the Premier League. After collecting one point from four games, the 3-0 win in north London will give Solskjær some breathing space even though United is still eight points from first place. Defending champion Manchester City is two points further back after Guardiola’s 200th league game in charge of the club ended in a 2-0 home loss to Crystal Palace. The Arsenal revival continued with a 2-0 win at Leicester putting the north London club behind United on goal difference in sixth place.

(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (Alastair Grant)LONDON — (AP) — Manchester City reasserted its Premier League title credentials on a day all of its big rivals dropped points. Chelsea had been anointed by increasing numbers as the title favorite after a strong start to the season. “And it was deserved.”PENALTY MISSBruno Fernandes missed an injury-time penalty as teammate Cristiano Ronaldo looked on in United’s first loss of the Premier League season. Fernandes, who had converted a penalty in all three of his prior Premier League appearances against Villa, adjusted the ball as Ronaldo stood nearby and then blasted it high over the crossbar. SALAH CENTURYMohamed Salah scored his 100th Premier League goal for Liverpool but it was not enough to beat Brentford, which twice pegged the Reds back.

Manchester City reasserted its Premier League title credentials on a day all of its big rivals dropped points.

Britain Soccer English League Cup Manchester City's Cole Palmer, right, is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's fifth goal during the English League Cup third round soccer match between Manchester City and Wycombe Wanderers at Etihad Stadium, in Manchester England, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. Pep Guardiola’s team last tasted defeat in the League Cup in October 2016, and hasn’t trailed since the first leg of the semifinals in January 2018. Liverpool and City are tied on a record eight League Cup titles. Everton was one of three Premier League teams taken to a penalty shootout by lower-league opposition, and fell to an 8-7 loss to second-tier Queens Park Rangers following a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes. It was also 3-0 between the teams in the opening round of the Premier League.

Manchester City’s players fell behind during a game in the English League Cup for the first time in nearly four years but immediately put that right.

Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) (Rui Vieira)For Pep Guardiola, it was a rallying cry ahead of what he expects to be a tough game. For some Manchester City supporters, it was an ill-timed comment that questioned the loyalty of the club’s fan base. I know exactly our fans will be there tomorrow to support, and hopefully Mr. Parker can come to watch us. I respect it a lot.”City has had near-capacity crowds for its first two home matches of the Premier League season — 5-0 wins over Norwich and Arsenal.

A clash has broken out between Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and a section of the team’s fans after he called for “more people” to attend the Premier League home match against Southampton on Saturday than had come to the Champions League win over Leipzig in midweek.

Two goals and an assist from Ferran Torres led Manchester City to a 5-0 victory over 10-man Arsenal.

Jack Grealish closed his eyes, looked toward the sky, and stuck his index fingers into his ears.

Barcelona President Joan Laporta says keeping Lionel Messi would be risky and not even the greatest player in the world was worth jeopardizing the club’s future.

Barcelona’s announcement that Lionel Messi would be leaving the club set Paris Saint-Germain scrambling to figure out if it could sign the most desired free agent in soccer history.

APTOPIX Portugal Soccer Champions League Final Chelsea's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal, Saturday, May 29, 2021. Champions League glory once again for Chelsea, nine years after its first title and just 123 days after manager Thomas Tuchel’s season-changing arrival at the club. Germany forward Kai Havertz's 42nd-minute goal earned Chelsea a surprisingly comfortable 1-0 win in Porto in the Champions League’s third all-English final on Saturday. Guardiola will surely regret tinkering with a settled team that had swept City to its first Champions League final and to the verge of another trophy treble, after winning the Premier League and the English League Cup. Christian Pulisic, who came on as a second-half substitute to become the first American player to feature in a Champions League final, posed with the trophy in a USA sweatshirt.

APTOPIX Portugal Soccer Champions League Final Chelsea's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal, Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Jose Coelho/Pool via AP) (Jose Coelho)PORTO, Portugal — (AP) — Chelsea won the Champions League for the second time Saturday, beating Manchester City 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz’s first-half goal as Pep Guardiola’s overthinking proved costly again in the all-English final. The innovative Spanish coach, seeking to win the Champions League for the third time and first since 2011, has been guilty in recent years of overthinking his tactics in the big games and he might have done it again here. Starting without a striker was expected -- Guardiola has preferred that in the Champions League knockout matches -- but going without a specialist holding midfielder in Fernandinho or Rodri was a major surprise and seemed to destabilize City. From one, substitute Christian Pulisic — the first American player to feature in a Champions League final — ran onto Havertz’s pass but slipped a shot just wide.

PORTO, Portugal — (AP) — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola selected a team without either of his holding midfielders, Rodri or Fernandinho, for the Champions League final against Chelsea on Saturday. Ilkay Gundogan, City's top scorer this season, looked set to drop into a deeper position in midfield in a surprise move, with Raheem Sterling picked as an extra attacking player. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel picked Kai Havertz in his three-man attack ahead of U.S. international Christian Pulisic. Center midfielder N'Golo Kante has shaken off his latest hamstring injury to start. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Chelsea won the Champions League for the second time by beating Manchester City 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz’s first-half goal as Pep Guardiola’s overthinking proved costly again in the all-English final.

Chelsea and Manchester City will contest an all-English Champions League final in Porto.

Being a back-up was all Kelechi Iheanacho ever knew.

The wait goes on for Manchester City.

Chelsea has come from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 and prevent City from clinching a third English Premier League title in four seasons and dethroning Liverpool.

APTOPIX Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, second right, scores his teams first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park in London, England, Saturday, May 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Catherine Ivill/Pool) (Catherine Ivill)Liverpool will like nothing more than to officially hand over its title as English Premier League champion to Manchester City on Sunday. City moved to the brink of reclaiming the league crown by beating Crystal Palace 2-0 on Saturday. Liverpool has long since given up its title after a dramatic implosion in the second half of the season. Of course, there are plenty of more chances for City to wrap up a third title in four years, and a fifth in the last decade.

Liverpool will like nothing more than to officially hand over its title as English Premier League champion to Manchester City on Sunday.

Manchester City has won the League Cup for a fourth successive season by beating Tottenham 1-0.

All six English clubs have dramatically abandoned plans to join a breakaway Super League, threatening to implode the project by a group of elite English, Spanish and Italian clubs less than two days after it was announced.

Manchester City's quadruple dream has been extinguished by Chelsea after losing 1-0 in the semifinals of the FA Cup.

One stoppage-time goal slowed Manchester City’s march to the Premier League title.

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan, right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English FA Cup sixth round soccer match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, Saturday, March 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Jon Super, Pool)With an unprecedented quadruple still a possibility for Manchester City, the pressure on Pep Guardiola is intensifying heading into the final two months of the season. I will not watch games.”Few would begrudge him the break, with an intense 34-match, four-month stretch -- featuring games every three or four days -- concluding with a 2-0 win over Everton in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday. AdIndeed, Guardiola’s players are sweeping all before them this season, having also reached the final of the English League Cup, the quarterfinals of the Champions League and forged a 14-point lead in the Premier League. "I’m looking forward to everyone coming back safe.”Southampton is the other team through to the FA Cup semifinals after beating second-tier Bournemouth 3-0 earlier Saturday.

(Adam Davy/Pool via AP)LONDON – Manchester City only needs to win five of its remaining eight games to secure the Premier League trophy. Sergio Aguero then fired the ball into the corner of the goal for his first Premier League goal in 14 months. "We want to still fight for the position in Europe.”TUCHEL UNBEATENChelsea extended its unbeaten start under Thomas Tuchel to 10 Premier League games with the draw at Leeds. ZAHA STANCEWilfried Zaha became the first Premier League player not to take a knee before his Crystal Palace team beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0. Zaha had already indicated that he thought taking a knee has lost meaning after being brought in by the Premier League in June as an anti-racism message when football resumed.

Manchester United won 2-0. Manchester United's 2-0 victory on Sunday halted City's winning run at 21 matches in all competitions. The most important number to Guardiola is 11 — the points advantage City holds over second-place United. City running away with the title seemed unimaginable in November when it lost to then-leader Tottenham. After a one-two with Marcus Rashford, the left back scored his first league goal since 2018, putting the ball through Rodri’s legs.

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, center right, scores the opening goal from the penalty spot past Manchester City's goalkeeper Ederson during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 7, 2021. (Peter Powell/Pool via AP)MANCHESTER – Success for Manchester United these days is being the spoiler as Manchester City goes on to eventually claim the league titles. City manager Pep Guardiola's pursuit of a world-record winning streak ended after United won the derby 2-0 on Sunday. Just like three years ago when Jose Mourinho's derby win prevented City sealing the title that April day. United goalkeeper Dean Henderson threw the ball out to Shaw, who was gifted time and space to run into the penalty area.

Manchester City players celebrate after Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scored his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates stadium in London, England, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. (Julian Finney/Pool via AP)Exactly three months ago, Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham was outwitting Manchester City to go top of the Premier League and leave Pep Guardiola doubting the direction he was taking his slumping midtable team. Things are changing fast in the lives of two of soccer’s most storied managers, whose teams are going in opposite directions this season. City beat Arsenal 1-0 thanks to Raheem Sterling’s second-minute header to preserve its 10-point lead over Manchester United and Leicester, who also won Sunday. “The Europa League is a window of opportunity that is open for us.”United beat Newcastle 3-1 to stay in second place on goal difference from Leicester, which won 2-1 at Aston Villa.

Sheffield United's Oliver Burke, right, is challenged by Manchester City's Ruben Dias during the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Sheffield United at the the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (Laurence Griffiths/Pool via AP)A last-minute consolation and a bundled effort from a long throw-in are the only goals Manchester City has conceded in nine games across all competitions in 2021. City's lead grew to three points on Saturday after its battling 1-0 win over last-place Sheffield United was followed by second-place Manchester United's latest slip-up, a 0-0 draw at Arsenal. Arsenal managed to keep Man United scoreless at Emirates Stadium, meaning Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team has dropped five points in three days after losing 2-1 to Sheffield United on Wednesday. City has a game in hand over United and is now the strong favorite for a third league title under Guardiola.

West Bromwich Albion players react after Manchester City's Joao Cancelo scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City at the Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, England, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. City was on course to match its biggest league win of the season and, on the evidence of this game and the last couple of months, Pep Guardiola's team is going to be hard to stop. City became the ninth side to finish a day in first place this season, the most within a single top-flight campaign since 1986-87. “But this time I want to dedicate the win and my two goals to my wife. Arsenal came from behind to win for the first time in a Premier League game this season, having trailed after three minutes.

Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe, center, battles for the ball with Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, left, and Stuart Armstrong during the Emirates FA Cup fourth round soccer match at St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England, Saturday Jan. 23, 2021. (Catherine Ivill/PA via AP)SOUTHAMPTON – Last season’s FA Cup winner Arsenal was eliminated from the competition in the fourth round on Saturday thanks to Gabriel’s own-goal in a 1-0 loss to Southampton, while Manchester City survived a scare to beat fourth-tier Cheltenham 3-1. In an otherwise close game, Gabriel's decision to try to block a shot from Kyle Walker-Peters proved decisive for Arsenal losing its hold on the cup. It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded since Dec. 26 after five consecutive shutouts. CITY UNDER PRESSURECheltenham came close to one of the biggest shocks in the 150-year history of the FA Cup before Pep Guardiola's City team scored three late goals.

4 UConn says it also must reschedule Wednesday’s women’s basketball game against Seton Hall. The Villanova game was postponed because the Wildcats also are dealing with COVID-19 issues within their women’s basketball program. ___Richmond’s men’s basketball team has paused team activities in response to the results from the latest COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. ___The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Tuesday that the Syracuse women’s basketball game at Georgia Tech on Thursday has been postponed. ___The women’s basketball game between No.

It was left, then, to Crawley to provide the so-called “giant killing” long associated with the storied competition, with a British reality TV star helping the fourth-tier team complete a stunning 3-0 win over Leeds. For Crawley, the road to Wembley Stadium is still very much open, with the dominant win over Leeds proving a fairy-tale moment for one of its late substitutes, in particular. After some time at Brentford, Tsaroulla is making his way in the game at Crawley and was in tears after the full-time whistle having scored his first senior goal. Timo Werner scored for the first time in 13 games to help Chelsea to a 4-0 win over fourth-tier Morecambe. On Saturday, sixth-tier Chorley eliminated second-tier Derby and Premier League team West Bromwich Albion was ousted by third-division Blackpool.

Lukasz Fabianski of West Ham United saves a penalty from Sergio Aguero of Manchester City which is then retaken due to him coming off his line during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on(CNN) - Any doubts that Manchester City was the favorite to defend its Premier League crown were quickly extinguished at the London Stadium Saturday. A Raheem Sterling hat-trick helped Pep Guardiola's side cruise past West Ham 5-0, which means City has now won its season opener for nine consecutive years. The emphatic scoreline bettered rival Liverpool's 4-1 victory over Norwich City on Friday night, further evidence that these two sides will be frontrunners again this season. It was also an action-packed afternoon for the video assistant referee, which is being used in the Premier League for the first time. The result means West Ham has lost by at least four goals in its last three season openers.