Gundogan among the goals again as City boost title challenge
MIDFIELDER Ilkay Gundogan continued his scoring streak with another two goals as Manchester City edged closer to a fifth Premier League title in six seasons following a 3-0 win over Everton yesterday.
Pep Guardiola’s side now only need a maximum of six points from their final three matches to extend their stranglehold on the championship trophy after a straightforward afternoon at Goodison Park
Gundogan took his tally to four in two matches with a brilliant double, one a superbly-executed overthe-shoulder volley and the other an exquisite curling free-kick up and over the wall.
In between Erling Haaland scored his almost mandatory goal to make it 52 for the season, with former Everton centre-forward Dixie Dean’s record of 63 still realistically within his reach.
His 36 league goals is the most in the English top flight since Southampton’s Ron Davies got 37 in 1966-67 and to further underline his quality - were that even required - in 100 league matches for former club Borussia Dortmund and City, the Norway international has scored 98 times.
Even a City side registering four changes - Kevin De Bruyne was one of those left out with Wednesday’s delicately-poised Champions League semi-final at home to Real
Madrid in mind - were barely tested in registering an 11th successive league victory in an 21-game unbeaten run.
The sight of injury-prone striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin being replaced at half-time would have been of some concern to 17thplaced Everton, who are now relying on neighbours Liverpool to do them a favour and prevent them falling into the bottom three by denying 19thplaced Leicester victory today.
The change could have been precautionary or even a case of damage limitation as there are vital matches coming up against Wolves before a final-day finish at home to Bournemouth.
The worst-case scenario would be facing those two matches without the England international, who, despite only one goal in five games since returning from two-and-half months out with a hamstring injury, has provided a muchneeded focal point.