Jesus shines for City; Eriksen fires Spurs
london — Manchester City swept back to the top of the Premier League as Gabriel Jesus struck twice in the champions’ 3-1 win over Everton, while Christian Erik- sen kept Tottenham in the title hunt in a last-gasp 1-0 victory against Burnley on Saturday.
Jesus hadn’t scored a Premier League goal since August, but the Brazil forward ended that drought to put Everton to the sword at the Etihad Stadium.
The 21-year-old’s goals and a strike from Raheem Sterling put City two points ahead of secondplaced Liverpool, but Jurgen Klopp’s team can regain top spot if they beat bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
Coach Pep Guardiola, whose team had surrendered pole position with their loss at Chelsea last weekend, was pleased to see Jesus get back on track with his seventh and eighth goals of the season.
“It is so important for him, strikers need to score goals,” said Guardiola.
“What he has done today, he has done in other games but the difference is he has scored goals.
“He has done it in a fantastic way. It was so valuable, his performance.”
Jesus opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a cool finish from a tight angle after Leroy Sane’s pass opened up the Everton defence.
Pep Guardiola’s side had to wait just five minutes after the break to make it 2-0, when patient build-up found Sane on the left and the German’s cross was met by a bullet header from Jesus.
Everton got back into the game in the 65th minute when Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header from a high-hanging Digne cross flicking off Fabian Delph and past the helpless Ederson.
But Raheem Sterling came off the bench to end the contest four minutes later when the City winger met Fernandinho’s cross with a firm header.
City were also cheered by the return of playmaker Kevin De Bruyne as a 75th minute substitute after a six-week lay-off with his second knee injury of the season.
At Wembley, Tottenham left it until stoppage-time before finally breaking Burnley’s stubborn resistance as the north London club moved within five points of the leaders.
Mauricio Pochettino’s thirdplaced side featured a first league start for 18-year-old midfielder Oliver Skipp, with Eriksen and Son Heung-Min on the bench. —
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