scoring Manchester City maintained its grip at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 home win over Newcastle United Saturday to take its goals tally to 42 from 12 games. Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero both scored penalties and Micah Richards was also on target to condemn third-placed Newcastle to its first defeat of the season and leave City as the only unbeaten side in the league. City has 34 points from a possible 36 this season and has piled up a staggering goal difference of 31 to lead Manchester United by five points. The champion edged a 1-0 victory at Swansea City in the late kickoff. Javier Hernandez scored the only goal in the 11th minute in South Wales from a cross by Welshman Ryan Giggs to inflict a first home defeat on the Premier League's newcomer. Arsenal maintained its improvement with a fifth consecutive league victory thanks to Robin van Persie's double in a 2-1 win at Norwich City, which moved the London club above Liverpool into sixth place with 22 points. Liverpool (19) faces 4th-placed Chelsea (22) Sunday, with 5th-placed Tottenham Hotspur (22) at home to 8th-placed Aston Villa Monday. Bottom club Wigan Athletic ended a run of eight successive league defeats in a 3-3 home draw with fellow struggler Blackburn Rovers, which equalized with an injury-time penalty despite playing most of the second half with 10 men. Wigan manager Roberto Martinez labelled Blackburn's second goal “scandalous” after Rovers forward Yakubu appeared to use his hand to re-start play from a corner. Bolton Wanderers remained in the relegation zone after a 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion. Everton eased away from the bottom three courtesy of a 2-1 home defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Queens Park Rangers won 3-2 at Stoke City, and Sunderland drew 0-0 with Fulham. While the English record 194.9 million pounds ($307m) loss Man City reported Friday called into question its route to the top of the Premier League, the truth is it looks unstoppable at present. Manager Roberto Mancini could even afford to juggle his squad, leaving seasoned internationals David Silva, Edin Dzeko and Gareth Barry on the bench but his selection dealt with Newcastle relative easily. City's goal tally after 12 games is the best in the top flight since Tottenham Hotspur netted 44 in its first dozen top-flight games in 1963 but Mancini warned against getting carried away with the idea it will stroll to the title.
