City keep faint title hopes alive
● Manchester City hit back to beat Leicester 3-1 as the champions kept alive their faint hopes of catching Premier League leaders Liverpool, while Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta got a glimpse of the problems ahead as Everton and Arsenal shared a dreadful 0-0 draw yesterday.
City have been left trailing in Liverpool’s wake this term.
Goals from Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus gave Pep Guardiola’s side a win that moved them within 11 points of Liverpool, who don’t play this weekend due to their involvement in the Club World Cup.
Jamie Vardy had punished City with a breakaway opener in the 22nd minute. But former Leicester winger Mahrez equalised with a deflected 30th-minute effort and Gundogan stroked home a 43rd-minute penalty after Raheem Sterling was tripped. Jesus extended third-placed City’s lead from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross in the 69th minute.
Elsewhere, Southampton beat Aston Villa 3-1 in a relegation showdown.
Former Napoli boss Ancelotti was confirmed as Everton’s new manager on the morning of the match, 24 hours after Arteta left his role as Manchester City assistant coach to take charge of Arsenal.
Both were in the Goodison Park stands with Duncan Ferguson and Freddie Ljungberg in temporary charge of Everton and Arsenal for the final time.
A point leaves Arsenal 11th and the Gunners have now won just once in their last 13 games in all competitions. Everton go to 15th, only four points clear of the relegation zone.
Ferguson’s role in Everton’s victory over Chelsea and draw at Manchester United in their last two league games ensured the Scot a role in Ancelotti’s backroom staff.
Ljungberg too looks set to remain on the
Gunners’ coaching staff and the Swede said: “I’ve been told by the club that they want me to stay. I was very happy. We put a very young side on the pitch and gave them a chance.”
At Villa Park, Southampton climbed out of the relegation zone at the expense of Dean Smith’s struggling hosts. Danny Ings struck for Southampton in the 21st minute, pouncing after Shane Long’s shot was saved.
Jack Stephens doubled Southampton’s lead 10 minutes later with a header from James Ward-Prowse’s corner. Ings wrapped up Southampton’s first win in three games.
Jack Grealish’s fine 75th-minute strike was no consolation for Villa, who sit three points behind Southampton.
Sheffield United climbed to within a point of the top four as Oli McBurnie’s 23rdminute strike clinched a 1-0 win at Brighton.
Wolves went sixth as they fought back for a 2-1 win at second-bottom Norwich.
Miguel Almiron bagged his first Premier League goal for Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. Jay Rodriguez’s 89th-minute goal handed Burnley a 1-0 win at Bournemouth.
The Gunners have now won just once in their last 13 games in all competitions