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City and Liverpool climb EPL table

Manchester City have taken over at the top of the Premier League table after winning 2-0 against Newcastle United in a tempestuous encounter at St James’ Park.

Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo claimed City’s goals, but the Sunday match’s defining incident occurred mid-way through the first half when Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote had a goal contentiously ruled out for offside.

Referee Mike Jones decided that Yoan Gouffran had impeded City goalkeeper Joe Hart as Tiote’s shot flashed past him, but the home fans jeered the decision and Newcastle manager Alan Pardew harangued Jones at half-time.

It was City’s sixth consecutive league win and lifted them above Chelsea at the summit, although they will lose their hold on first place if Arsenal win at Aston Villa on Monday.

“It was a very difficult game and it’s a very big result as we know it’s a tough place to come and win,” said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who also lost Samir Nasri to what he described as a “serious” knee injury.

Pellegrini played down a touchline row between himself and Pardew in the angry aftermath of Tiote’s disallowed goal and said that Jones had made the correct call.

“Nothing important was said on the touchline between me and Alan Pardew, but I think it’s impossible for the referee to handle a game when every time he gave a decision against Newcastle there were complaints,” he said.

Pardew, whose side remain in eighth place, said Jones had not adequately explained his decision to rule out Tiote’s goal.

“I’m not thrilled with the referee’s answer when I’ve asked for an explanation as I don’t quite get how he can disallow a goal of that quality on the technical point he is using,” he said.

“Joe Hart is nowhere near it. It goes through a crowd of City players who are impairing his view. It’s a massive call on a very technical point.”

There was controversy, too, as Liverpool beat Stoke City 5-3 in an enthralling match to return to the top four and claim their first league victory at the Britannia Stadium at the sixth attempt.

A fifth-minute Ryan Shawcross own goal and an opportunistic Luis Suarez effort put the visitors 2-0 up, only for Stoke to draw level before half-time through Liverpool old boys Peter Crouch and Charlie Adam.

Crouch reduced the arrears with a deft header from a Marko Arnautovic cross, before Adam drove a rasping drive past Simon Mignolet from outside the area.

However, after Marc Wilson had been penalised for felling Raheem Sterling, much to the disgust of the Stoke supporters, Steven Gerrard restored Liverpool’s lead from the penalty spot in the 51st minute.

Daniel Sturridge made his return from a seven-week injury lay-off as a substitute and he neatly teed up Suarez for his second goal – and 22nd of the campaign – with 19 minutes to play.

Jon Walters gave Stoke hope by squeezing a shot past Mignolet in the 85th minute, but Sturridge beat Jack Butland at the second attempt two minutes later to finally put a breathless game to bed.

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