Walker gives Man City win at Sheffield United

LONDON: Manchester City beat Sheffield United 1-0 at Bramall Lane on Saturday with Kyle Walker scoring against his boyhood club to extend the home side’s winless start to the Premier League season to seven games.

Walker, who was raised in Sheffield and came through the Blades’ youth system, marked his 100th league appearance for City with a goal in the first half and refused to celebrate.

The 30-year-old full back collected the ball outside the box and let loose an angled low drive into the bottom corner that skidded across the wet turf and beat the outstretched hand of Blades goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Ferran Torres, leading the City line in the absence of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, had the opportunity to double the lead from long range when Ramsdale came racing off his line but his effort was hit straight at the goalkeeper.

But despite their domination, City could not make their numerous chances count.

United nearly levelled in the 70th minute when Sander Berge shrugged off two defenders in a mazy run to the byline before a pull-back into the box, only for John Lundstram to fire his shot over the crossbar.

The result moved City up to seventh in the standings, two points behind league leaders Everton, while United languish in 19th with just one point.

Wolverhampton Wand­erers, meanwhile, climbed to third in the Premier League after beating Crystal Palace 2-0 on Friday thanks to goals from teenage wingback Rayan Ait-Nouri and Daniel Podence.

Ait-Nouri, 19, handed Wolves the lead in the 18th minute after latching on to a clearance and driving a bouncing shot into the far corner for his first goal in senior football on his Premier League debut.

Podence made it 2-0 with a superb cushioned volley nine minutes later.

Palace had several VAR decisions go against them, with a goal disallowed and a penalty award overturned, both for offside.

They suffered a further setback when Luka Miliv­ojevic was given his marching orders in the 87th minute after a review showed a nasty foul on Joao Moutinho. The win puts Wolves up to third on 13 points from seven games. They trail second-placed Liverpool on goal difference. Palace are ninth on 10 points.