MANCHESTER (United Kingdom): Manchester City thrashed Liverpool 4-1 on Saturday but remain eight points adrift of 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 sides that have dominated English football over the past five years, City were a class apart despite the absence of Erling Haaland due to injury.
Liverpool went in front through Mohamed Salah’s 23rd goal of the season but were blown away in the second half after Julian Alvarez brought City level before the break.
Pep Guardiola’s men needed less than a minute in the second period to go in front as Kevin De Bruyne tapped home Riyad Mahrez’s cross.
Ilkay Gundogan slammed home the third before Jack Grealish rounded off his best performance in a City shirt with a fine finish for the fourth.
City still have a game in hand on Arsenal and the two meet in a potential title decider at the Etihad later this month.
A sobering defeat is another blow to Liverpool’s hopes of a top-four finish as the Reds slip to eighth in the table.
Arsenal did not feel the pressure of City briefly cutting the gap before kick-off at the Emirates as Jesus marked his first league start since November with a double.
Brighton and Brentford shared the points after a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Amex.
Three times Brentford led through Pontus Jansson, Ivan Toney and Ethan Pinnock.
Aston Villa are also making a late push for Europe as their superb form under Unai Emery continued with a 2-0 win at Chelsea.
Ollie Watkins and John McGinn scored for the visitors at Stamford Bridge, who moved above Chelsea into ninth.
Roy Hodgson’s return at Crystal Palace delivered the Eagles’ first victory of 2023 as Jean Philippe-Mateta’s 94th minute goal beat Leicester 2-1 at Selhurst Park.
Defeat sees Leicester slip into the relegation zone after Bournemouth came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 thanks to goals from Marcus Tavernier and Dominic Solanke.
Nottingham Forest and Wolves remain outside the bottom three after a 1-1 draw at the City Ground. – AFP
