City back on top after prevailing in Manchester derby, Arsenal stumble
Manchester City kept the destination of the Premier League title in their own hands by beating Manchester United 2-0 to climb back above Liverpool with three games left of the season.
United slumped to a seventh loss in their last nine matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thanks to two strikes in a 12-minute span from Bernardo Silva and substitute Leroy Sane, with United goalkeeper David De Gea partially at fault for both.
Bernardo Silva cut inside and shot inside De Gea's near post in the 54th minute, with the goalkeeper slow to get down to his left.
De Gea then failed to keep out with his legs a low shot from Sane at the end of sweeping counter-attack led by Raheem Sterling.
City moved one point ahead of Liverpool and will become the first team to retain the Premier League title since Manchester United in 2009 if the team wins its last three games - against Burnley, Leicester and Brighton.
Liverpool's last three games are against Huddersfield, Newcastle and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
United were well beaten in the end, like they were in a 4-0 loss at Everton on Sunday, but can at least take solace from Arsenal's 3-1 loss at Wolves on Wednesday.
In the four-team fight for the top-four finish to get into next season's Champions League, United stayed in sixth place, two points behind Arsenal, three behind Chelsea and six adrift of third-place Tottenham.
United plays Chelsea on Sunday, when City visits Burnley.
Arsenal's fragility on the road put a huge dent in their hopes of a top-four finish.
The north Londoners needed only a point to reclaim fourth spot from Chelsea but conceded three times before half-time.
Unai Emery's side were stunned as Wolves recovered from a slow start to take the lead with a stunning Ruben Neves free-kick before Matt Doherty headed a second in the 37th minute.
It got even worse for Arsenal in first-half stoppage time as they carelessly gave the ball away in midfield and Diogo Jota surged through to fire a shot past Bernd Leno.
A late Sokratis header from Granit Xhaka's cross was scant consolation for the Gunners fans who had made the trip to the Midlands.
Wolves, who were promoted last year, moved into seventh spot - a position that could offer a route into European soccer next season.
AP, Reuters