Manchester City end Leicester’s unbeaten run
Posted by News Express | 22 December 2019 | 1,543 times
Manchester City hit back
to beat Leicester 3-1 as the champions kept alive their faint hopes of catching
Premier League leaders Liverpool, while Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta got a
glimpse of the problems that lie ahead as Everton and Arsenal shared a dreadful
0-0 draw on Saturday.
City have been left
trailing in Liverpool’s wake this term and a defeat against second-placed
Leicester would have been a fatal blow to their bid for a third successive
title.
But goals from Riyad
Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus gave Pep Guardiola’s side a win that
moved them within 11 points of Liverpool, who don’t play this weekend due to
their involvement in the Club World Cup.
Jamie Vardy had punished
City’s defensive weakness against the counter-attack with a breakaway opener in
the 22nd minute.
But former Leicester
winger Mahrez equalised with a deflected 30th-minute effort and Gundogan
stroked home a 43rd-minute penalty after Raheem Sterling was tripped by Ricardo
Pereira.
Jesus extended
third-placed City’s lead from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross in the 69th minute to
leave Leicester 10 points behind Liverpool.
Liverpool, chasing a
first English title since 1990, have a game in hand to bolster their lead and
also face Leicester on Boxing Day.
Elsewhere, former Napoli
boss Ancelotti was confirmed as Everton’s new manager on Saturday morning, 24
hours after Arteta left his role as Manchester City assistant coach to take
charge of Arsenal.
Both bosses were in the
Goodison Park stands with Duncan Ferguson and Freddie Ljungberg in temporary
charge of Everton and Arsenal for the final time.
And the lack of
confidence of two sides struggling at the wrong end of the table was obvious in
a match completely devoid of quality.
A point leaves Arsenal
11th and the Gunners have now won just once in their last 13 games in all
competitions.
Everton move up to 15th
but are only four points clear of the relegation zone.
Ferguson’s role in
Everton’s impressive victory over Chelsea and draw at Manchester United in
their last two league games was enough to ensure the Scot a role in Ancelotti’s
backroom staff.
“What a fantastic
performance we put in. I couldn’t have asked for any more from them, they’ve
been incredible for me,” Ferguson said.
On Ancelotti, Ferguson
added: “A guy of that pedigree coming here, I can’t wait to start working under
him.”
Ljungberg, meanwhile,
looks set to remain on the Gunners’ coaching staff and the Swede said: “I’ve
been told by the club that they want me to stay.
“I was very happy. We
put a very young side on the pitch and gave them a chance.”
– Saints alive –
Southampton climbed out
of the relegation zone at the expense of Aston Villa, who have now lost their
last four league games.
Danny Ings struck for
Southampton in the 21st minute at Villa Park, the in-form striker pouncing
after Shane Long’s shot was saved to net his 12th goal of the season and his
sixth in his last seven games.
Jack Stephens doubled
Southampton’s lead 10 minutes later with a header from James Ward-Prowse’s
corner.
Ings wrapped up
Southampton’s first win in three games when he punished Marvelous Nakamba’s
poor defending in the 51st minute.
Jack Grealish’s fine
75th-minute strike was no consolation for Villa, who sit three points behind
Southampton.
Despite having two goals
ruled out after VAR reviews, Sheffield United climbed to within one point of
the top four as Oli McBurnie’s 23rd-minute strike clinched a 1-0 win at
Brighton.
Wolves moved into sixth
place as they fought back for a 2-1 win at second-bottom Norwich.
Miguel Almiron bagged
his first Premier League goal at the 27th attempt to seal Newcastle’s 1-0 win
against Crystal Palace, before the Paraguayan earned a buzz-killing booking for
taking off his shirt to celebrate the 83rd-minute strike at St James’ Park.
Jay Rodriguez’s
89th-minute goal handed Burnley a 1-0 win with their first shot on target at
Bournemouth. (AFP)
Source: News Express
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