MIND THE GAB, REDS
It’s a stroll for Guardiola’s men as two-goal Jesus helps champions close in on Klopp’s Premier leaders
THEY will not give up their title without a fight.
In truth, Manchester City did not even have to work that hard to beat Wolves, especially after the visitor were reduced to 10 men following Willy Boly’s reckless challenge.
It is a battle of wills now for the Premier League crown and will be a case of who blinks first, City or Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s men applied the pressure by winning at Brighton on Saturday to go seven points clear and it was down to City to again cut the gap to four.
They did exactly that at the Etihad with a workmanlike win without really having to extend themselves.
Gabriel Jesus scored twice, Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions more efficient than effervescent, although always far too good for Wolves.
Jesus was slick, dangerous and in the mood and has now scored 12 times in his last eight home games, as if to prove City have found their rhythm.
But what was really punishing for Wolves was to lose Boly after just 19 minutes. To spend the rest of the match chasing shadows with a man down was just too much.
City fans were chanting their “olés” because of the endless passing triangles as they painted pretty pictures around the visitors’ midfield.
The two Silvas, Bernardo and David, were finding angles, Leroy Sane absolutely rinsed Matt Doherty down the flank and Wolves could not live with Raheem Sterling’s movement.
But it was more of a procession at times because City were so dominant from the moment they took a tenth minute lead.
The build-up started from an unlikely source but spoke volumes about their quality as centre-half Aymeric Laporte played a wonderful ball down the line, Sane caught Doherty napping and put over a perfect low cross. There was Jesus steaming in down the middle to stretch and turn in the ball from close range.
All of Wolves’ plans and bright ambition about giving another of the Premier League’s big clubs a bloody nose were undone.
Wolves held City at home, beat Chelsea and knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup, so their Portuguese boss Nuno Espirito Santo is no mug. Yet he will have been furious about what unfolded next.
Defender Boly launched himself at Bernardo Silva in the 19th minute. It was not so much the tackle as the follow through.
It left referee Craig Pawson no option but to send him off. Wolves pleaded, perhaps making
the case that Fernandinho was punished with only a yellow for scything down Diogo Jota minutes before.
Wolves reshuffled, reorganised and defended valiantly with Conor Coady marshalling the back line as best he could in pretty unforgiving circumstances.
They tried and had the odd break, with Raul Jimenez and Jonny combining to almost set up Jota.
But the game was over as a contest before half time.
Sterling exchanged passes with David Silva and when the England winger was fouled by Ryan Bennett in the box, Pawson pointed straight to the spot.
Jesus stepped up to convert the 39th-minute penalty. From then on it was just a matter of playing for pride for Wolves, while City pushed for more goals.
Jesus went off to a standing ovation to be replaced by Sergio Aguero. That is one hell of a Plan B.
City’s third came when substitute Kevin De Bruyne’s teasing 78th-minute cross caused mayhem in the Wolves penalty area and deflected in off Coady for an own goal.
Liverpool go first again this weekend, hosting Crystal Palace on Saturday 24 hours before City visit Huddersfield.
It promises to be another battle of nerves but City are showing no sign of cracking.