The China Mail - Carrick magic dents Man City title bid as Arsenal extend lead

Sorry Tottenham slipped to defeat against relegation-threatened West Ham, further increasing the pressure on beleaguered boss Thomas Frank, while Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Burnley.

The early result at a bouncing Old Trafford -- in Carrick's first game at the start of his second spell in temporary charge of the Red Devils -- left Pep Guardiola's City seven points behind Arsenal.

Former United midfielder Carrick was appointed as head coach until the end of the campaign following the sacking of Ruben Amorim earlier this month.

The 44-year-old, who was also briefly United's caretaker boss in 2021, said ahead of his first game that there was still "magic" at United, and his team put on a memorable show in a 2-0 win that could easily have been much wider.

Second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu capped a dominant display by United, who have had to play second fiddle to neighbours City for more than a decade.

"Great start. No getting away from that," said Carrick. "The boys were fantastic."

"Consistency is the key to any success," he added. "If you could find that, then you're onto a winner."

Guardiola admitted that his team -- winless in four league games this year -- were outplayed by Carrick's inspired United.

"The better team won," said the City boss. "We weren't at the level required to win this game.

"In many departments, we weren't there. They were better. They had an energy we didn't have."

Arsenal, facing Forest in the late kick-off, had the chance to pull nine points clear of Guardiola's men but were held to a 0-0 draw at the City Ground.

The Gunners, chasing a first Premier League title since 2004, dominated the game but could not break the deadlock.

- Spurs crisis -

The mood at Tottenham darkened further after Spurs slipped to a 2-1 defeat against West Ham, who had not won a Premier League match since early November.

Spurs fans turned on Frank and chanted "you're getting sacked in the morning" after Callum Wilson struck a stoppage-time winner.

Spurs, 14th in the table, have now won just two of their league games at home this season, leaving Frank, in his first campaign in charge, under enormous pressure.

"It's tough to take, it hurts a lot," the Spurs boss told Sky Sports. "The boys put everything in, and that's a sign of a squad that is fighting, doing everything they can to try and win.

"It's fair to say, if there was to be a winner in the second half, then it should have been us."

Nuno Espirito Santo's West Ham finished the day five points behind Forest, who are just above the relegation zone.

Defending champions Liverpool are now unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions but dropped two valuable points against struggling Burnley at Anfield.

Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz scored his third league goal since his arrival but the visitors drew level in the 65th minute when Marcus Edwards placed his shot beyond the reach of Alisson Becker.

"It feels like a defeat," said Wirtz. "When we had so many shots and so many on target, I think we had to score more goals.

"But some days are like this -– you try everything but in the end it doesn't go in the goal. We only take one point but I can only say (in) the next game we go again and try to do better."

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, who replaced the departed Enzo Maresca earlier this month, watched as his side saw off high-flying London rivals Brentford 2-0.

Joao Pedro gave the Blues the lead in the first half and Cole Palmer doubled the advantage from the spot in the 76th minute.

Sunderland beat Crystal Palace 2-1 while Leeds scored late on to beat Fulham 1-0, remaining eight points clear of the relegation zone.

X.So--ThChM