London, Aug 27: Nicolas Anelka scored in the 87th minute as Manchester City moved atop the premier league standings with a 3-2 win at Blackburn.
Michael Tarnat and Joey Barton also scored for City, which has two wins and a draw after three games. City leads defending champion Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea by one point, though Kevin Keegan's team has played one more game.
Lorenzo Amoruso scored for Blackburn, which has a win, loss and draw. The Rovers' other goal came when Trevor Sinclair headed a corner into his own net.

Tarnat, who joined from Bayern Munich in the offseason, beat Friedel in the fourth minute with a swerving left-footed free kick from 30 yards (meters) out. Shaun Wright Phillips, arguably City's best player, forced Friedel to make a good save at the near post in the 19th minute.
With Manchester City 'keeper David Seaman ready to punch the ball to safety, Sinclair leveled the game in the 44th minute off Brett Emerton's kick.



Barton's low shot beat Friedel in the 59th minute, but Amoruso's header off a corner - with Seaman stranded - made it 2-2 two minutes later.



With space in midfield and defenses stretched, both teams had chances. City midfielder Antoine Sibierski shot wide twice from close range, and Blackburn's Turkish midfielder, Tugay, went close in the 83rd minute.


Bureau Report