City back to winning ways ahead of crunch Liverpool tie
MANCHESTER City bounced back from two consecutive defeats to beat Southampton 3-1 yesterday and cut the gap on leaders Liverpool to seven points before the top two meet on Thursday.
Pep Guardiola’s champions needed to regain their footing after stumbling against Crystal Palace and Leicester, and did so with strikes from David Silva, Sergio Aguero and James WardProwse’s own goal at St. Mary’s.
Charlie Austin should have put Southampton ahead but miscontrolled the ball after being played in on goal and City immediately took advantage, with Bernardo Silva teeing up David Silva to slot home unmarked in the 10th minute.
Alex McCarthy made a good save to keep out Aguero, pictured, from point-blank range after good work by Sterling and City were made to pay for their profligacy when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg slammed home after robbing Oleksandr Zinchenko.
City regained the lead when Sterling’s cut-back deflected against WardProwse and in after 45 minutes and Aguero headed home another from Zinchenko’s cross in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
McCarthy made good saves to deny Sterling and Mahrez after the break, while Aguero hit the crossbar and Hojbjerg was sent off for a rash tackle on Fernandinho.
Meanwhile, Burnley gained three vital points in their fight to escape the relegation zone, as they ended a threegame losing run with a comfortable victory over West Ham at Turf Moor.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche made five changes to the side thumped 5-1 by Everton on Boxing Day, including a recall for goalkeeper Tom Heaton in place of Joe Hart.
And they responded with Chris Wood deservedly putting them ahead with a right-footed finish from the left of the penalty area.
That arrived at the end of a sweeping move as Dyche’s team repeatedly carved through the visitors.
They pressed home their advantage before the interval, when McNeil turned in Westwood’s cross.
It was a disappointing end to a strong December for West Ham, who arrived in east Lancashire on the back of five wins from six games.
Despite the return of Marko Arnautovic, playing for the first time since 4 December, Manuel Pellegrini’s side were sluggish throughout with their best chance, a header from substitute Andy Carroll, drawing a fine save from Heaton late on.