CITY BOUNCE BACK TO BOOST THEIR TITLE HOPES

Manchester City bounced back from their European heartbreak to move a step closer to retaining the Premier League title by thrashing Newcastle 5-0 yesterday.

Raheem Sterling struck twice while Aymeric Laporte, Rodri and Phil Foden were also on target at the Etihad Stadium as City powered three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table.

The performance and result were an emphatic response after City’s Champions League hopes were shattered by Real Madrid’s dramatic semifinal fightback at the Bernabeu in midweek.

Many had wondered how Pep Guardiola would rouse his squad after that devastating loss but Liverpool’s failure to beat Tottenham on Saturday probably did his job for him.

On whether there were doubts they’d bounce back from the Real Madrid defeat, Guardiola told Sky Sports: “With what this team have done, do you have any doubt?

“We are five years doing this every three days. If some people doubted us they don’t know this team.

“It’s one of the best groups I ever trained in my life. Three points, nine points to play for, four ahead on goal difference. Another final on Wednesday.”

Arsenal’s quest for a return to Champions League football continued as they laboured to a 2-1 victory over 10-man Leeds with Eddie Nketiah’s brace sending the visitors into the relegation zone.

Nketiah, on loan at Leeds during the 2019-20 campaign, appeared to all but seal the points in the opening 10 minutes before Luke Ayling was dismissed to add to the woes of Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch, whose side at least registered a goal through Diego Llorente.

Mason Holgate fired resurgent Everton out of the relegation zone with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory at Leicester.

The defender’s header secured back-to-back league wins for just the second time this season as the Toffees moved above Leeds and Burnley.

West Ham brushed off their European exit and reignited the race for the top six with a thumping 4-0 win at Norwich thanks to goals from Said Benrahma (2), Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini.