Aguero double sends Man City back to top

LONDON: Sergio Aguero spelled double trouble for Crystal Palace as Manchester City romped to a 4-0 home win and went top of the Premier League, temporarily at least, on goal difference on Saturday.
The Argentine striker scored in the 41st minute, after Fabian Delph’s 22nd-minute opener at the Etihad, then doubled his tally in the 68th and set up David Silva for the fourth six minutes from time.
City leapfrogged leaders Arsenal and Leicester City, with the top three all level on 43 points.
Leicester play bottom side Aston Villa in the late kickoff while Arsenal travel to Stoke City on Sunday.
Fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur closed the gap on the leaders to four points with a crushing 4-1 defeat of struggling Sunderland in the lunchtime match at White Hart Lane.
Danish international Christian Eriksen struck either side of halftime after Sunderland, mired in the relegation zone, had taken an early lead through Patrick van Aanholt.
While Spurs reignited their title challenge, fifth-placed West Ham United’s push faltered with a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United.
John Terry scored for both sides as champions Chelsea pulled off a Houdini-like escape in a 3-3 home draw with Everton, the veteran defender grabbing a dubious equalizer in the dying seconds to atone for his 50th-minute own goal.
All the goals at Stamford Bridge came in the second half, with Chelsea battling back from 2-0 down before substitute Ramiro Funes Mori put Everton back in front as the game entered stoppage time.
Newcastle’s victory lifted them out of the bottom three while troubled Swansea, who entertain Watford on Monday, dropped to 18th and a point ahead of Sunderland.
On a lively winter’s afternoon for south-coast sides, Southampton beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0 for their third successive home win and Bournemouth overcame Norwich City by the same scoreline.
Liverpool, ninth, and Louis Van Gaal’s sixth-placed Manchester United clash at Anfield on Sunday.

Gameiro double lifts Sevilla to fifth in La Liga
Sevilla climbed above Celta Vigo and Eibar into fifth place in La Liga when a quickfire Kevin Gameiro double secured a 2-1 victory at home to Malaga on Saturday.
Gameiro opened the scoring in the 40th minute at the Sanchez Pizjuan with a neat lob and the French forward made it 2-0 two minutes later, his 11th goal of the campaign, with a cool finish from Vitolo’s cross.
Sevilla surrendered control to Malaga, who are 10th, in the second half and Charles pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute after a well-worked free kick.
The Europa League holders had midfielder Vicente Iborra sent off seven minutes from time when he picked up two yellow cards in rapid succession shortly after coming off the bench but they held on to move on to 32 points from 20 matches.
Malaga fullback Arthur Boka was dismissed in added time when he also earned two quick cautions.
“It was a tough game but this will lift our spirits and will give us confidence going forward,” Gameiro told Spanish TV.
Leaders Atletico Madrid (44) are two points clear of second-placed champions Barcelona, who have played one game fewer than their main rivals, with Real Madrid a further two points adrift in third.
Real host Sporting Gijon on Sunday, before Atletico visit Las Palmas and Barca play at home to Athletic Bilbao.
Villarreal (39) can leapfrog Real into third and draw level on points with Barca if they win at home to Real Betis later on Saturday, when Celta (31) host bottom side Levante. Eibar (30) play at home to Getafe on Monday.