City too close to Gunners

Brighton (England), April 26: Manchester City demolished Brighton 4-0 as Phil Foden’s double lifted the Premier League title chasers to within one point of leaders Arsenal on Thursday.

Pep Guardiola’s side were in imperious mood at the Amex Stadium from the moment Kevin De Bruyne headed them into an early lead.

England forward Foden struck twice before the interval to put the result beyond doubt.

Julian Alvarez ended his goal drought after halftime to ensure injured striker Erling Haaland wasn’t missed as his absence with a muscle problem stretched to a second successive game.

Liverpool’s surprise defeat at Everton on Wednesday was a welcome boost for City in the title race after Arsenal had thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday.

And City’s stroll on the south coast kept the destiny of the title in their hands.

Guardiola’s team, who have a game in hand on both Arsenal and thirdplaced Liverpool, will be crowned champions for an unprecedented fourth successive season if they win their last five matches.

With at least four goals in each of their last four league games, City are rounding into form at just

the right again.

Next up for City, who are unbeaten in 18 league games, is a trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, while Arsenal head to Tottenham just hours earlier.

Guardiola has bemoaned the “unacceptable” fixture schedule that he believes puts his players’ health at risk, blaming the pile-up for their sluggish performance

once

in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals.

While City searched for the energy to propel them a step closer to the title, Brighton couldn’t have been any fresher as they played for the first time in 12 days.

But there was no sign of any weariness from the champions as they took the lead with a typically eye-catching move in the

17th minute.

Foden took possession 30 yards from goal and drifted towards the right flank, where his astute pass found Kyle Walker’s run.

Walker floated a pinpoint cross into the area and De Bruyne timed his run perfectly as the Belgian’s diving header lifted the ball over Brighton keeper Jason Steele into the roof of the net. —

— AFP Manchester City’s English midfielder Phil Foden celebrates scoring the team’s third goal, his second, during the English Premier League match against Brighton and Hove Albion at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton.