Silva scorches Stoke as City march towards Premier title
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David Silva finished off two sumptuous moves to guide Manchester City to a 2-0 win at relegation-threatened Stoke and another step towards their seemingly inevitable coronation as English Premier League champions.
There’s a growing possibility that City, 16 points clear at the top, could wrap up a third league title in seven years by beating Manchester United in the derby on April 7.
The prospect would arise if City and second-place United both win their next games, against Everton and Swansea respectively.
Silva side-footed home a cross from fitagain winger Raheem Sterling to give City a 10th-minute lead, against the second-frombottom Potters, on Monday (Tuesday NZ time).
City dominated thereafter and Sterling won back possession to start the move that led to the second goal.
Gabriel Jesus looped the ball across the box for Silva to hook in a finish in the 50th minute.
Silva took his tally of league goals to eight in a season that has been disrupted for the playmaker while he makes regular trips back to his native Spain because his prematurely born son is receiving medical attention.
He was there last week, with City manager Pep Guardiola allowing Silva to miss the second leg of the Champions League last16 tie against Basel.
Sterling was influential on his return to the team after missing five games because of injury, and he should have capped his display with a goal of his own. Running clean through in the 80th minute, the England winger delayed his attempt to round Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland. He finally did so, but Stoke’s defence recovered to thwart him.
While FA Cup semifinalists City are off for some warm-weather training in Abu Dhabi amid a two-week break from league play, Stoke resume their bid to escape relegation with a home game against Everton on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Southampton have fired manager Mauricio Pellegrino in a bid to avoid being relegated.
The south-coast club took action two days after losing 3-0 at Newcastle, following which Pellegrino said some of his players ‘‘gave up.’’
Southampton are in 17th place, a point and a place above the relegation zone.
‘‘The club will look to appoint a new management team as soon as possible, with the search for a replacement already under way,’’ Southampton said.
Pellegrino, 46, joined on a three-year deal in June last year, weeks after leaving Spanish team Alaves.