Manchester City have capitalised on two defensive lapses by Romelu Lukaku to claim a record-setting 2-1 win over Manchester United and open up an 11-point lead over their fierce Premier League rivals.
Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi. Photo: Photosport
Both of Lukaku's mistakes came in United's penalty area while he was defending set pieces, with David Silva and Nicolas Otamendi taking advantage to score with close-range finishes in the 43rd and 54th minutes.
Marcus Rashford equalised for United between City's goals, from another defensive mistake, in the meeting of the league's top two teams at Old Trafford.
It was City's 14th straight victory in the league, something that has never been achieved before in England's top flight in a single season. Arsenal won 14 straight games in 2002, but across two seasons.
In handing United its first loss at Old Trafford since winning there in September last year, City also ended their neighbours' club record-equalling run of 40 matches unbeaten at home.
And it gave City manager Pep Guardiola another win over his great coaching rival Jose Mourinho, his ninth in 20 meetings between them. Mourinho has won four.
With 16 games gone, City - still unbeaten in the league - are looking unstoppable in pursuit of a first league title until Guardiola. Third-placed Chelsea are 14 points off the pace, with manager Antonio Conte having already given up on defending the trophy.
Earlier, Everton captain Wayne Rooney scored for the first time in a Merseyside derby with a late penalty to take an unlikely point in a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
With the snow swirling, Rooney sent the 77th-minute spot kick straight down the middle after Dominic Calvert-Lewin went down following a push in the back by Croatian defender Dejan Lovren.
Mohamed Salah had earlier fired Liverpool ahead with a 42nd-minute stunner that sent the Egyptian clear of Tottenham Hotspur's England striker Harry Kane as the league's top marksman with 13 goals this season.
Substitute Olivier Giroud rescued Arsenal with a late equaliser after Southampton had looked like taking all three points.
France international Giroud, who came off the bench in the 72nd minute to replace compatriot Alexandre Lacazette, made it 1-1 in the 88th minute with a glancing header into the bottom right corner.
Southampton had made a dream start with Charlie Austin grabbing his fourth goal in four league games with a third- minute shot past Petr Cech after being fed through by Dusan Tadic.
- Reuters
