ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City 3 Everton 1
LONDON • Manchester City did not have things completely their way against Everton so in emerging with the 3-1 Premier League win, the champions illustrated why they remained title favourites despite losing top spot last Saturday.
They also leapfrogged Liverpool to become leaders again until, at the very least, Manchester United visit Anfield today.
Everton arrived at the Etihad yesterday as the only side not to lose at City's home ground in the two league outings since Pep Guardiola took over in 2016, but left with the record shredded.
City did this by retaining the relentlessness that steamrollered most opponents and that finally wore the visitors' resistance down.
Guardiola made four changes from their midweek Champions League win over Hoffenheim, bringing in Fabian Delph, Riyad Mahrez, Fernandinho and Kyle Walker.
The City boss also resisted starting Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero, despite the duo recovering from their respective injuries.
11
League matches Gabriel Jesus has gone scored in since August, a total of 487 minutes and 18 shots without netting.
Fears in recent weeks that City lack a natural predator in front of goal in the absence of Aguero were quashed by two fine finishes from Gabriel Jesus, who had previously scored only one league goal in 13 games this season.
Having not netted in City's past five games, the Brazil forward was delighted to break his scoring duck, saying: "I'm so happy with the game and with the win. This season is more difficult for me because other clubs are stronger.
"This game was difficult so I am happy. The game was amazing."
Teammate Bernardo Silva was equally thrilled with his side's response after last weekend's defeat at Chelsea, which ended their unbeaten league run, telling reporters: "We are happy especially as we knew we were playing a very tough team. To get the three points is very good."
With temperatures approaching freezing in Manchester, City were nearly caught cold by an early Everton break when Richarlison fired the first big chance of the game over from Lucas Digne's cross.
The Toffees, however, played a big part in their own downfall as Jesus opened the scoring midway through the first half.
Yerry Mina's hopeful punt gave away possession and the defender then played Jesus onside as the latter ran onto Leroy Sane's pass to fire low past Jordan Pickford.
Guardiola's men had to wait just five minutes after the break to make it 2-0, when a patient build-up again found Sane on the left and the Germany winger's cross was met by a bullet header from Jesus.
Marco Silva's players had barely offered any threat in the second period but they got a lifeline 25 minutes from time after Dominic Calvert-Lewin's header flicked off Delph and past the helpless goalkeeper Ederson.
Guardiola responded by sending on Raheem Sterling for Sane and in a week in which the England forward spoke out bravely about the alleged racist abuse he suffered last weekend at the hands of Chelsea fans, he also made his mark on the field by scoring immediately.
Jesus was involved again as he freed Fernandinho, who picked out Sterling to head home for his ninth league goal of the term.
De Bruyne then made his first appearance since Nov 1 - just his fourth in the league this term - after being sidelined by two separate knee injuries and his return will be an early Christmas present ahead of Liverpool's league visit on Jan 3.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
Rangers sign Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis in loan moves
Football: Pochettino loses his cool as Spurs slump, Huddersfield closer to relegation. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino remonstrates with referee Mike Dean after the match.
Pochettino Loses His Cool as Spurs Slump, Huddersfield Closer
It was a City siege in the second half, though, with the team's passing much crisper and penetrative. David Silva had a penalty shout turned down after Burnley striker Ashley Barnes appeared to handle the midfielder's shot. Burnley center backs Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, sitting very deep, kept getting in the way of passes, crosses and shots.
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will fight with every fibre for Premier League title 2:57 pm, 8th February 2019 The Reds host Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday, knowing victory will take them back to the top of the table with a three-point cushion before Manchester City host Chelsea, live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp Says Liverpool Will Fight With Every Fibre For
Treat women better, Salah urges Muslim world, Football News
Sanchez: Spurs squad can cope without Kane and Alli Injuries to Harry Kane and Dele Alli will not derail Tottenham's Premier League title challenge, insists Davinson Sanchez.
Sanchez: Spurs squad can cope without Kane and Alli
Suarez will miss the Copa del Rey final against Valencia on May 25 and also faces a fight to be fit for the Copa America in Brazil next month. Uruguay's first game is against Ecuador on June 16
NEWCASTLE, England (REUTERS) - Crystal Palace all but banished any lingering relegation fears as captain Luka Milivojevic fired home a late penalty to secure a 1-0 Premier League victory at
Milivojevic penalty seals Palace win at Newcastle - Football
Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Crystal Palace - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - February 23, 2019 Leicester Citys Jonny Evans scores their first goal REUTERS/Jon Super Feb 23 - - Crystal Palace piled further pressure
Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel - msn.com
Win over Watford more like draw: Ole LONDON • While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was able to mark his first game as Manchester United's full-time manager with a victory, he was far from impressed by the "slow and sloppy" performance by his players.
"It was more like a draw" | Ole after Watford Match - YouTube
Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge five-goal Everton thriller out on Champions League football next season. put Everton 2-0 in front, but Newcastle struck three times in 19
Premier League: Southampton Stun Fading Tottenham Hotspur
Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly (Arabic: محمد صلاح غالى Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [mæˈħam.mæd sˤɑˈlɑːħ ˈɣæːli]; born 15 June 1992) is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Egypt national team. Considered one of the best players in the world, he
Liverpool win Champions League after Salah and Origi sink
0 comments:
Post a Comment