Jesus

By Max Wise

The cat-and-mouse race at the top of the Premier League table continued on Saturday when Manchester City, aided by Gabriel Jesus’ brace, beat Everton 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium to leapfrog Liverpool into first place.

The Champions suffered a blip after losing at Chelsea last week but bounced back against the Toffees to move top of the table on 44 points, two points above Liverpool who host Manchester United on Sunday.

Everton remain stuck on 7th place with 24 points from their seventeen games so far.

Everton had the chance to take the lead in the 15th minute when Lucas Digne’s inviting cross for Richarlison was volleyed over from close range by the Brazilian.

The toffees nearly scored an own goal in the 21st minute when Michael Keane could only connect Gundogan’s cross straight at goal but Pickford reacted well to push the ball round the post with his fingertips.

Gabriel Jesus gave City the lead in the 22nd minute when he raced into the box after a through ball by Sane and slotted the ball under Jordan Pickford at his near post.

Gabriel Jesus' goal was his first in the Premier League since August, ending a run of 11 games, 487 minutes and 18 shots without one.

Jordan Pickford came to Everton’s rescue when he palmed away Mahrez’s half volley after the Algerian pounced on a loose ball in the box in the 40th minute.

City quickly doubled their lead five minutes after the break when Gabriel Jesus put a bullet header past Pickford after Leroy Sane’s cross.

Against the run of play, Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled one back for Everton in the 65th minute when he met Digne’s cross with a good header past Ederson.

Substitute Raheem Sterling put the game to bed in the 69th minute with possibly his first touch after Everton left him unmarked to head home Fernandinho’s cross.