MAN CITY 2, EVERTON 1
Striker Sergio Aguero may be “irreplaceable” but Gabriel Jesus’ brace extended a remarkable goalscoring record for Manchester City against Everton.
The brilliant Brazilian has now found the net seven times in five Premier League appearances against the Toffees.
Jesus can count himself desperately unlucky to so often be understudy to the legendary Aguero as his stats for the current campaign underline – 25 appearances, including 15 starts, 13 goals and three assists.
Jesus was the difference between the teams in a lukewarm game as City entered the new decade as they left the old one on Sunday by recording victories.
The striker struck two goals in seven second half minutes to reduce Liverpool’s lead to 11 points, though the leaders have played two less games.
And after Richarlison halved the deficit it made for an anxious final 20 minutes with City holding a slender one-goal advantage.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity manager Pep Guardiola is delighted with Jesus’ contribution and each day he is getting better.
He said: “What Gabriel has shown, despite his ups and downs, age and injuries, he has done excellently with or without Sergio (Aguero).
“Sergio is irreplaceable in what he has done at this club and provided the best moment in the club’s history against QPR (he scored the goal which clinched the first Premier League title).
“Sergio every year is getting one year more and we need back up and he complements excellently with Gabriel and for strikers they have an extraordinary relationship.
“In the last game Sergio helped us with a fantastic first goal and today it was Gabriel.”
Guardiola praised his team’s performance.
He said: “When you are champions two times it is normal to give up in our position and finish seventh or eighth.
“Maybe that might happen but it will not be because we are not trying.”
City made five changes to the side that struggled to beat Sheffield United on Sunday.
Guardiola freshened up his team by recalling Joao Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy at full back, Phil Foden had a rare start in midfield alongside Ilkay Gundogan while Jesus got the nod over Sergio Aguero up front.
The other players to lose out were Kyle Walker, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling.
Guardiola started as he finished against Sheffield United with midfielder Rodrigo as a third centre back in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Everton were forced to make a change even before the game kicked off when Brazilian Bernard was injured in the warm up so Tom Davies was summoned at short notice to start.
Seamus Coleman had the first goal attempt of the game in the ninth minute as he forced a superb save from Claudio Bravo to turn over his shot from little more than six yards.
Foden thought he had given City a 12th minute lead only for the goal to be ruled out as Riyad Mahrez was offside in the built up.
Mahrez released Cancelo whose right-wing cross was converted at the far post by Foden who was only three yards out.
City fans were further incensed with VAR after they were denied a 19th minute penalty when Mahrez went down, albeit theatrically, after a challenge by Lucas Digne.
It continued to be frustrating for City as Mahrez forced a decent save from Jason Pickford who also easily dealt with a shot from Gundogan.
City wasted a great chance to make the breakthrough in the 42nd minute when Mahrez dragged a shot narrowly wide from a Jesus cutback.
It was the sixth time in the last eight home Premier League games that City had failed to score in the opening half.
City finally made the breakthrough in the 51st minute through Jesus.
The Brazilian ran on to Gundogan’s through ball, cut back inside Mason Holgate and bent a shot high into the net, though Pickford got a hand to the effort but was unable to keep it out.
In the light of what had gone before, there were ironic cheers when a VAR check for a possible offside allowed the goal to stand.
Jesus double the lead in the 58th minute after a neat passing move between Kevin De Bruyne, Foden and Mahrez set up the striker who found the net with a low drive from eight yards.
Everton, who looked out for the count, gave themselves a lifeline when they halved the deficit in the 71st minute.
A poor clearance from Bravo was intercepted the Moise Kean who released Theo Walcott on the right and his low cross deflected off Mendy to Richarlison at the far post and he fired into the roof of the net from close range.
Jesus had a chance to restore a two-goal advantage but his close-range header was scrambled to safety by Pickford.
City were incensed not to be given a penalty after Foden, clean through, was challenge by Djibril Sidibe.
Jesus had a chance to complete a hat-trick when put through by Mahrez, but his shot struck the upright.
Foden was then denied by Pickford before being replaced by David Silva with eight minutes left, City’s first change.
The second switch in the third of four added minutes saw Sterling replace Mahrez as City ran down the clock to register their first win of 2020.