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Gabriel Jesus goals keep Manchester City hot on the heels of Premier League leaders Liverpool

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MAN CITY 3, WOLVES 0

Gabriel Jesus continued his red-hot scoring streak as Manchester City defeated 10-man Wolves at the Etihad.

The Brazilian scored twice to make it seven in three games and a goal every 34 minutes as City reduced the deficit on leaders Liverpool from seven to four points.

And City maintained their impressive record having never lost in the 20 games in which Jesus has scored.

But the game was effectively ended as a contest with less than 20 minutes played following Willy Boly’s sending off.

Wolves, in fairness, restricted City to a penalty and Conor Coady own goal as City made it 99 goals for the season in all competitions.

City also keep a first clean sheet in nine Premier League games with goalkeeper Ederson almost unemployed as Wolves, who suffered their heaviest loss of the season, mustered only two goal attempts, and none of target compared to 22 from City who had eight on target.

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Manager Pep Guardiola was not happy with his side’s attacking play, saying: “We arrived in the final third easy but then forgot to attack the goal.

“When we arrive in the final third, we need more movement, something Kevin (De Bruyne) gave us when he came on.”

Guardiola was asked about the title race with Liverpool, explaining: “We have incredible numbers. It is difficult to maintain consistency after last season, but we have done so, but they have done better.

“All we can do is win our games and results will dictate who wins the league.”

Pep Guardiola praises Wolves midfielders Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo had no qualms about the sending off saying it was a red-card offence.

City had considerable firepower on the bench with Sergio Aguero, De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez on the bench.

Wolves had Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves and Leander Dendoncker back from the home defeat against Crystal Palace.

“We knew it was tough. It got harder.” Nuno on the sending off of Willy Boly at Man City

City made the perfect start taking a 10th minute lead through Jesus.

Leroy Sane broke on the left and his low cross eluded Wolves’ keeper Rui Patricio for Jesus, sliding in, finding the net from four yards.

It was Jesus’ 11th goal in his last eight appearances at the Etihad in all competitions and his 13th of the season

And it would have been 2-0 not long after when David Silva’s 25-yard drive was well tipped over the bar by Patricio.

Wolves faced a mountainous task when centre-back Willy Boly was sent off for a dangerous lunging challenge on Bernardo Silva.

City had an injury scare when Jesus collided with the upright when flying in to meet Kyle Walker’s cross. After a lengthy stoppage for treatment, the Brazilian was able to carry on.

The 10 men almost equalised in the 36th minute after a speedy counter attack that ended with Jonny Otto crossing from the left but Diogo Jota, sliding in, just failed to connect.

City doubled their lead in the 39th minute after Raheem Sterling was tripped by Ryan Bennett. It was City’s first Premier League penalty of the campaign.

Jesus obliged from the spot with his seventh goal in his last three games, all at home.

Sane had a couple of decent chances early in the second half – he dragged the first well wide and had strayed offside on the other occasion.

City made their first change just after the hour when David Silva, playing a club record 267th Premier League game for the club after beating Joe Hart’s total, was replaced by De Bruyne.

They made a second switch with 16 minutes left when Sane made way for Ilkay Gundogan and the third soon followed when Aguero replaced Jesus.

De Bruyne almost added a third goal when his fierce shot was beaten away for a corner by Patricio.

But from the resulting short corner and cross from De Bruyne, City found the net through a Coady own goal. Substitute Romain Saiss tried to head clear but the ball deflected off Coady and to the left of the motionless Patricio.

Manchester City on cloud nine after Carabao Cup semi-final win against Burton Albion

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MAN CITY 9, BURTON ALBION 0

Manchester City’s biggest win for more than 31 years assured them of a place in the final of the Carabao Cup.

Though the second leg of the semi-final is still to come at Burton Albion, there will be no way back for the battered Brewers on a record-breaking night for City.

It was the biggest-ever margin of victory in the semi-finals of any English cup competition and the first time since Leeds United in 1967 that a team in any of the top four divisions had scored seven goals in back-to-back games.

Gabriel Jesus led the way with four goals, including a 29-minute hat-trick and the first time he had ever scored four goals in a game. There was one apiece for Kevin De Bruyne, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez.

It gave City their largest victory since beating Huddersfield Town 10-1 in November 1987 on a day when three players scored hat-tricks.

This was Burton’s first-ever meeting with City, one they will quickly want to erase from the memory after the League One side was outclassed by ruthless opponents.

Most side scoring four, five or more goals would have eased up, but not City who were relentless.

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Burton manager Nigel Clough said: “My players were wide-eyed at half time. They had seen the City players on television, but never actually been out there to see how good they were.

They don’t just beat you, they annihilate you.” – Nigel Clough on Man City

“I don’t think my players could have done much more when you look at the quality out there in terms of the gulf between the two teams that was too much to comprehend.

“People talk about the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United bridging the gap with City, but you are talking here about a team midway down League One

“I hate losing 9-0, but it was nothing more than I expected. They don’t just beat teams, but annihilate them.

“When you look at their front five, if they play in the semi-final of the Champions League against Real Madrid, they will give them problems.”

Clough added the game was a celebration of the achievement of reaching the semi-final, something most clubs of their size will never do.

City manager Pep Guardiola echoed the same sentiments adding it was a great achievement to claim one Premier League and three Championship scalps on their epic cup run.

He was delighted to have reached the final, even though this is the less prestigious of the four pieces of silverware they are chasing.

“Every single game is important” – Pep Guardiola after Manchester City beat Burton Albion 9-0

“Manchester City does not have a museum that is full of trophies. We have to take our chances and are delighted to be back at Wembley,” he said.

Guardiola explained the difference between the Premier League and League One is the quality of the players, the rhythm and high intensity and over 90 minutes their physicality was higher.

He also explained his side didn’t ease up in the second half out of respect for the competition and also their opponents, but added he never expected to score so many goals.

Guardiola was especially pleased for Jesus who extended his season’s goals total from eight to 12 and including nine goals in eight cup games this season.

“Strikers need goals and he had many chances in the last game and it was good for him, good for the team and good for everybody,” he said.

Guardiola described it an “honour” to play against Nigel Clough saying he had an “incredible father who was a charismatic person” before detailing Brian’s achievements which demonstrated a great understanding of the history of English football.

Only five of the City side that put seven goals past Rotherham remained –  Walker, Ilkay Gundogan, Nicolas Otamendi, Jesus and Zinchenko.

It was still a City team packed with international stars as Bruyne, Leroy Sane, David Silva and record-buy Mahrez all won recalls.

And the bench included Brazilian internationals Ederson and Danilo, John Stones, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva.

Many of the Brewers’ fans were delayed by an accident on the M6, but the decision was made not to put back kick off.

And the late comers missed City taking the lead after five minutes through De Bruyne.

David Silva delivered a delicious cross from left of centre and De Bruyne ghosted from deep to head home from nine yards.

Burton ought to have equalised in the 12th minute when Marcus Myers-Harness missed a relative sitter.

A low cross from the left somehow found its way to Myers-Harness completely free on the far side of the box, but he blazed over.

Mahrez found the net with a sumptuous finish from a Gundogan cross, but the goal was ruled out as he had strayed offside.

City doubled their advantage on the half hour when Jesus found the net.

Sane was heavily involved in the build up and his shot was blocked by keeper Bradley Collins but the ball bounced up invitingly  for Jesus to head home from three yards.

The floodgates began to open as City scored a third goal four minutes later.

Gundogan supplied the cross, David Silva cushioned a pass back to Jesus who found the net from seven yards in off the upright. VAR needed to check the goal as Jesus was offside early in the build-up.

City added a fourth goal in the 37th minute, a spectacular effort from Zinchenko from 20 yards that looped over Collins after Sane provided the assist. What a great way to score his first goal for the club.

And but for a fine reflex save from Collins it would have been five before the break as he superbly denied Mahrez.

Referee Mike Dean referred a City penalty appeal to VAR following a challenge by Ben Turner on Jesus, but it was not given.

Clough sent his Burton side out well before City reappeared and the Brewers began the second period brightly.

Scott Fraser wasn’t far off a goal when his shot dipped narrowly over the crossbar.

It was only a temporary reprieve as City soon added a fifth goal as Mahrez teed up Jesus to head home the goal that completed a second hat-trick at the Etihad.

City’s first change in the 58th minute saw De Bruyne replaced by teenager Phil Foden who found the net within five minutes of his entrance.

Gundogan released Jesus whose shot was well blocked by keeper Collins but the ball ran free to Foden to slot home from six yards, his second home goal for City with both coming in the space of four days.

Jesus scored his fourth and City’s seventh midway through the second period with a close-range shot after Sane supplied the cross from the left.

Bernardo Silva replaced Sane moments later, but it failed to disrupt City’s flow.

They soon bettered the seven goals against Rotherham with an eighth as right-back Walker got into the scoring act.

Burton’s defence was ripped open again as Mahrez cross from the left was fired home by Walker from 10 yards, and there was still 20 minutes left to play.

City’s third and final change saw Walker make way for Danilo.

And City came within inches of a ninth goal when David Silva’s shot struck the upright with Collins beaten.

The ninth goal arrived with six minutes left when Bernardo Silva crossed from the left and Mahrez scored a scruffy goal that crept past Collins.

The crowd’s response was to chant for a 10th goal which almost came with three minutes left when Otamendi’s header was saved on the line by the diving Collins as they just came up short on reaching double figures.

Ruthless Manchester City in seventh heaven after FA Cup win against Rotherham United

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MAN CITY 7, ROTHERHAM UNITED 0

You could not fault Manchester City’s professionalism as they ruthlessly disposed of Championship club Rotherham United at the Etihad in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

They were in heaven as they scored seven goals without reply after a terrific display against the Millers who are battling for survival if football’s second tier.

And the goals were even evenly distributed between Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi, Leroy Sane and a Semi Ajayi own goal.

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There was praise from City manager Pep Guardiola who said: “We took it seriously. We had to do our job which we did amazingly.

“We had eight or nine new players and fresh legs. They saw what their mates did on Thursday (league win against Liverpool) and everyone did well from Kyle (Walker) to Kevin De Bruyne.”

Rotherham manager Paul Warne admitted he was pleased to hear the final whistle.

He said: “Premier League teams come here and get a good licking and my players should not be embarrassed.

“It was a joy to bring my players here and if they can learn from how good Manchester City were and improve one or two per cent going forward it won’t be a wasted experience.”

Warne added: “If we could have got to half time at 1-0, I would have been pleased, but the two goals late in the half killed the game.

“It was damage limitation and the gulf in class was there for everyone to see.”

Warne added he told his right-back Zak Vyner to smile when City took off Sterling and replaced him with Sane.

City made eight changes from the side that started against Liverpool, Ederson, John Stones and Sterling the three survivors.

It was still a side packed with experience – 10 senior internationals plus England under-21’s Phil Foden – while Leroy Sane, Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva were among the substitutes.

The only senior players not involved were Sergio Aguero, David Silva and the injured Vincent Kompany.

It looked as though it was going to be a long afternoon for Rotherham after Gabriel Jesus headed against the crossbar little more than 60 seconds into the game.

And not long after Sterling shot wide under pressure from Ajayi and Mahrez had an effort deflected for a corner.

Rotherham held out until the 12th minute when Sterling broke the deadlock. He played a return pass with De Bruyne before firing home from eight yards, his 11th goal of the season.

There was a lengthy stoppage after an assistant referee came off injured as he was replaced by fourth official Paul Marsden. The delay was caused by the official having to be wired up so he could communicate with referee David Coote.

Rotherham had their first clear-cut chance when keeper Ederson was dispossessed by Anthony Forde trying to dribble the ball out of defence, but Stones saved the day with a timely clearance.

City added a second goal in the 43rd minute when Foden scored his first-ever goal at the Eithad in his first-ever FA Cup tie.

Ilkay Gundogan lofted the ball over the defence and Foden scored a scruffy goal as the ball came off his boot and deflected off his knee as it trickled past keeper Marek Rodak.

City added a third goal in stoppage time when Walker’s cross was put through his own goal by Ajayi who, sliding in with Sterling behind him, deflected the ball into the roof of the net.

Rodak was called into action soon after the restart to turn away a cross-cum shot from De Bruyne.

City added a fourth goal in the 53rd minute through Jesus.

Sterling roasted right-back Zak Vyner and squared the ball for Jesus to score with a simple tap in.

City made their first change in the 57th minute. If the Millers were glad to see the back of Sterling, his replacement was German international Sane.

Rodak turned over a shot from Gundogan before Guardiola made a second change when De Bruyne was replaced by debutant Philippe Sandler.

The 21-year-old central defender, signed from Dutch club PEC Zwolle for £2.3million in the summer, was used as a holding midfielder.

Rotherham almost scored a second own goal when Vyner deflected a Sane corner towards his own net, but the ball was clawed away by Rodak.

City found the net for a fifth time in the 73rd minute when Mahrez played a return pass with Gundogan before firing home a low shot from 12 yards.

Guardiola’s third and final substitution saw Stones replaced by Danilo.

Rodak beat out a drive from Kyle Walker but could do nothing to keep out City’s sixth goal from Otamendi with 12 minutes left.

Gundogan’s corner was met by the Argentine centre half who found the net with a bullet header from seven yards into the roof of the net.

City were in seventh heaven in the 85th minute when Sane found the net with the aid of a marked deflection past Rodak with Gundogan providing a fourth assist of the match.

Rotherham had their first on target attempt in the 88th minute when Michael Smith’s shot was turned over by Ederson.

It was as though referee Mr Coote wanted to spare Rotherham further suffering when he blew the final whistle after exactly 90 minutes.

Bearing in mind there were four goals and six substitutions in the second period, you would have imagined there would have been a number of additional minutes to play.

Premier League title race back on as Manchester City inflict Liverpool’s first league loss

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MAN CITY 2, LIVERPOOL 1

Manchester City reignited the Premier League title race as they ended leaders Liverpool’s unbeaten run.

It was a vital victory as Liverpool would have opened a 10-point lead at the top had they triumphed at the Etihad.

But in the proverbial six-pointer, they reduced the deficit to four and the title race is back in the melting pot after Liverpool lost their invincible tag with a first defeat in 21 league games.

Goals from Sergio Aguero – he has netted in all seven home league games against Liverpool to create a record – and Leroy Sane came either side of an equaliser from Roberto Firmino.

But in a game that lived up to all the pre-match hype, City were desperately clinging on to their lead in the dying minutes.

And in a game of mighty fine margins, the breaks went City’s way as Liverpool struck the frame of the goal and were denied by goalline clearances while Vincent Kompany was lucky not to be sent off in the opening half.

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City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about the importance of the victory, declaring: “It was a final for us. It would have been almost over had we lost, but winning we are almost there.

“We are still four points behind, but it is enough points to be calm.

“We are in a good moment and I would like to thank these incredible players for their efforts over the last 16 months.

“They showed how good they are against an incredible team.”

Pep Guardiola praises Bernardo Silva’s role in victory over Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his side didn’t have the breaks.

“It was post in, post put out and these things can make a massive difference,” he said.

“We had two chances blocked pretty much on the line. It is luck there or not there.”

Klopp, who described it as a “really intense football game for both teams”,  added it was the one of three results his side didn’t want.

He remained upbeat about his side’s title prospects.

“if somebody said we would be four points ahead after both games against City, I would have paid money for that,” Klopp added.

Jurgen Klopp can’t believe that Vincent Kompany wasn’t sent off for his foul on Mo Salah

City made two changes from the side that won at Southampton on Sunday.

Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riyad Mahrez lost out as there were recalls for John Stones and Sane.

Aymeric Laporte was switched from centre half to left back which is a problem spot for City with Fabian Delph suspended and Zinchenko out of favour for being at fault for Saints’ goal on Sunday.

After a frenetic and nervous start from both teams, City’s Ederson was the first keeper called into action in the eighth minute.

He dived to save after a flick from Firmino, following a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross, took a marked deflection off a defender.

Liverpool were desperately unlucky not to have found the net in the 18th minute.

Sadio Mane was put clean through by Mohamed Salah but his shot struck the upright.

Stones, attempting to clear, saw his kick hit Ederson and loop back towards goal.

Stones produced a heroic clearance with goalline technology showing it was millimetres from being the breakthrough goal.

Kompany was lucky to only be given a yellow card after a lunging tackle on Salah. Replays showed raised studs and her was out of control.

It was City, however, who broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with Aguero scoring from the tightest of angles, his 250th career league goal.

Bernardo Silva crossed from the left and Aguero, at the near post, turned Dejan Lovren superbly before firing into roof of the net from a seemingly impossible angle.

City were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty early in the second half when Andy Robertson clearly looked to wrestle Raheem Sterling to the ground, but referee Anthony Taylor waved play on.

The City player’s previous history clearly impeded his prospects of gaining a spot kick.

Liverpool made the first substitution of the match in the 57th minute when former City player James Milner was replayed by Brazilian Fabinho.

City had an anxious moment when Ederson failed to claim a free kick from Alexander-Arnold and Firmino’s goalbound shot was blocked by Kompany.

Liverpool were level in the 64th minute with a well-worked goal.

Alexander-Arnold’s cross was met by Robertson with a cushioned volley across the face of goal for Firmino to head home from four yards.

Guardiola’s response was to withdraw the disappointing David Silva and throw on Ilkay Gundogan.

City regained the lead in the 72nd minute through Sane’s ninth goal of the season and third in his last three games against Liverpool.

Sterling made a break and released Sane on the left and he fired across the face of goal and in off the far upright as the Etihad erupted.

Liverpool brought on Swiss magician Xherdan Shaqiri with 13 minutes left as he replaced Mane.

City could have sealed victory in the 82nd minute when Aguero broke clear but, as he attempted to round Ederson, the keeper made a fabulous block.

Liverpool had two chances to equalise in quick succession as Salah broke away only for Ederson to save superbly while Georginio Wijnaldum had a shot blocked on the line.

Klopp threw on another striker as Daniel Sturridge replaced Wijnaldum while City brought on defenders Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi for Laporte and Kompany.

In the latter stages it was like the Battle of the Alamo with Liverpool pressing for an equaliser and City forced to defend seldom like they have to do.

But in the 90th minute City had another great chance to wrap up victory.

Bernardo Silva broke away on the left and was denied by a super save from Alisson. The ball rebounded to Fernandinho who blazed well wide.

Manchester City suffer shock home league loss to lowly Crystal Palace

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MAN CITY 2, CRYSTAL PALACE 3

If ever there was a coupon-busting result it was this one as Manchester City were beaten at home by lowly Crystal Palace.

City’s first home league loss since the derby defeat in April leaves Liverpool with a four-point lead going into Christmas.

It was a below-par display as City suffered a second league loss of the season, and both have come in the last three games.

Palace had a game plan they executed to perfection, even after City had taken the lead through Ilkay Gundogan.

They hit City with a deadly three-goal burst either side of the break from Jeffrey Schlupp, Andros Townsend and penalty from Luka Milivojevic.

Though City pulled a late goal back from substitute Kevin De Bruyne, they were unable to stage another of their late, late comebacks.

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City manager Pep Guardiola took the defeat on the chin. He said: “Congratulations to Crystal Palace and you cannot underestimate what they did and they deserve a lot of credit.

“We must think about the next one and we have to improve our quality and create more chances.”

Guardiola added his team created enough chances in the opening period pointing out Palace scored their opener on the first time they crossed the half-way line.

He continued: “After their third goal there was 10/15 minutes when it was not clear.

“We changed to three at the back, scored a second goal a bit late and had one or two more chances to score another.”

Palace manager Roy Hodgson was elated with the result and said: “To score three goals away against a team of this quality says a lot.

“It begs the question where have they (the players) been before?”

Hodgson added he always knew it would take “discipline, quality and workrate” if they were to have a chance of getting something from the game.

Palace’s manager added it rated very highly but not quite as much as Fulham’s 3-2 win at City which launched their great escape against relegation as they would have gone down had they lost, though he pointed out this was a far superior City side.

City had central defender John Stones operating in midfield as Brazilian Fernandinho was injured.

And they had plenty of firepower on the bench that included Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez.

Palace had Wilfried Zaha and James Tomkins back after suspension, two influential players at either end of the pitch.

Palace, who had lost all six previous Premier League visits with a goal difference of 21-1, could have been three down inside 10 minutes as City made a whirlwind start.

Fabian Delph’s 25-yard drive forced a fine save from keeper Vincente Guaita, Nicolas Otamendi’s header was cleared off the line and Leroy Sane shot into the side netting after a deadly burst down the left.

In the opening quarter of an hour City had 81-per-cent possession, an indication as to their dominance.

Bernardo Silva had a shot blocked and Sane shot straight at Guaita, but City just couldn’t make the breakthrough which finally came in the 27th minute.

Delph crossed from the left and Gundogan ghosted from deep to head past Guaita from eight yards.

City were stunned when Palace equalised in the 33rd minute.

James McArthur breezed past Stones to release Schlupp who ran from deep on the left past Kyle Walker and fired across keeper Ederson low in the far corner.

And it got even better when Palace went 2-1 ahead after 35 minutes.

Patrick van Aanholt’s free kick was eventually headed out by Bernardo Silva but only as far as Townsend who found the net with a volley, a screamer from 30 yards into the top corner.

City made a change five minutes into the second half as Aguero replaced Nicolas Otamendi as Stones dropped back into defence.

But the afternoon soon got worse for City who conceded a third goal.

Townsend headed against the upright from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross. As the ball ran across the face of goal, Walker tripped Max Meyer as he attempted to clear.

Milivojevic stepped up to score from the spot as City were left with a mountain to climb.

City desperately needed added firepower and in the 62nd minute defender Delph was replaced by front-man De Bruyne.

Guardiola played his last card with 21 minutes left when Sterling made way for Mahrez.

City came close to a second goal when Sane’s free kick from 30 yards hit the upright with keeper Guaita rooted to the spot.

A second goal came with five minutes left, but with a huge slice of luck as De Bruyne’s cross from the right looped over Guaita into the far top corner of the net.

City fans, who had been silent, suddenly came to life as they sensed a late comeback was still on the cards.

Jesus had a chance to equalise in the second of four added minutes – more than five were played – when he headed over from De Bruyne’s cross as City ran out of time to equalise.