Manchester City beat Liverpool 4-1 on Saturday but are eight points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League after Gabriel Jesus scored twice in the Gunners’ 4-1 win over Leeds.
In the clash between the two teams that have dominated English football for the past five years, Manchester City were in a class of their own despite the absence of their goal-scoring striker Erling Haaland through injury.
Liverpool took the lead, with Mohamed Salah’s 23rd goal of the season, but were defeated in the second half after Julian Alvarez equalized for City before half-time.
Pep Guardiola’s men took less than a minute to take the lead in the second half when Kevin De Bruyne fired in a cross from Riyad Mahrez.
Ilkay Gundogan added a third before Jack Grealish capped off his best performance in a City shirt with a fine finish to make it 4-1.
“Now it’s the Jack we want. Aston Villa fans know this Jack,” Guardiola said of Grealish, who will cost around £100 million in 2021.
“Nothing has changed, it’s just a matter of believing that I am part of this and that I can be here,” said the player.
The disappointing defeat is another blow to Liverpool’s top four hopes, with Jürgen Klopp’s side falling to eighth in the table.
Seventh heaven for Arsenal
Arsenal did not feel pressure from City and beat Leeds with two goals from Gabriel Jesus.
In the absence of Bukayo Saka, Jesus took responsibility for a penalty and opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break.
Jesus was sidelined for three months after suffering a knee injury during the FIFA World Cup, but the return of the former City striker could be the key to denying his former club a fifth title in six years.
The Brazilian scored his second goal of the game after Ben White doubled Arsenal’s lead early in the second half.
Rasmus Kristensen pulled one back for Leeds, but Granit Xhaka closed the scoring for Arsenal, who achieved seven consecutive wins for the first time under Mikel Arteta.
The victorious return of Roy Hodgson
The return of veteran coach Roy Hodgson to Crystal Palace saw the Eagles secure their first win of 2023, as Jean Philippe-Mateta’s 94th-minute strike saw Leicester beat Leicester 2–1 at Selhurst Park.
The Foxes looked on course for a much-needed victory when Portugal’s Ricardo Pereira fired on target in the 56th minute. But an own goal from Iversen and a goal from Mateta, at 90+4′, turned the game around.
Turnaround also saw Bournemouth beat Marco Silva’s Fulham 2-1. Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton drew 1-1, Brighton and Brentford drew 3-3,
Source: DN
