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Manchester Metropolis demolished Brighton 4-0 as Phil Foden’s double lifted the Premier League title chasers to inside one level of leaders Arsenal on Thursday.
Pep Guardiola’s facet have been in imperious temper on the Amex Stadium from the second Kevin De Bruyne headed them into an early lead.
England ahead Foden struck twice earlier than the interval to place the outcome past doubt.
Julian Alvarez ended his objective drought after half-time to make sure injured striker Erling Haaland wasn’t missed as his absence with a muscle downside stretched to a second successive sport.
“It’s a good outcome for us, actually good,” Guardiola stated. “I stated earlier than, what we’ve got performed previously, it doesn’t imply we’ll do it sooner or later.
“We all know the margins are so tight. Now we have to win each one. Every sport we’re nearer.”
Liverpool’s shock defeat at Everton on Wednesday was a fine addition for Metropolis within the title race after Arsenal had thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday.
And Metropolis’s stroll on the south coast saved the future of the title of their arms.
Guardiola’s group, who’ve a sport in hand on each Arsenal and third-placed Liverpool, can be topped champions for an unprecedented fourth successive season in the event that they win their final 5 matches.
| # | Crew | Performed | GD | Factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 34 | +56 | 77 |
| 2 | Manchester Metropolis | 33 | +48 | 76 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 34 | +41 | 74 |
With no less than 4 targets in every of their final 4 league video games, Metropolis are rounding into type at simply the precise second as soon as once more.
However Guardiola warned: “What occurred to Liverpool, two defeats in a row, it may occur to Arsenal, it may occur to us.
“What’s vital is that also we’re there. There are a variety of video games to play.”
Subsequent up for Metropolis, who’re unbeaten in 18 league video games, is a visit to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, whereas Arsenal head to Tottenham simply hours earlier.
Guardiola has bemoaned the “unacceptable” fixture schedule that he believes places his gamers’ well being in danger, blaming the pile-up for his or her sluggish efficiency in Saturday’s 1-0 win in opposition to Chelsea within the FA Cup semi-finals.
Whereas Metropolis looked for the vitality to propel them a step nearer to the title, Brighton could not have been any more energizing as they performed for the primary time in 12 days.
However there was no signal of any weariness from the champions as they took the lead with a usually eye-catching transfer within the seventeenth minute.
Foden took possession 30 yards from objective and drifted in direction of the precise flank, the place his astute move discovered Kyle Walker’s run.
Metropolis in command
Walker floated a pin-point cross into the realm and De Bruyne timed his run completely because the Belgian’s diving header lifted the ball over Brighton keeper Jason Steele into the roof of the online.
De Bruyne’s fourth objective in his final 5 video games marked the primary time the midfielder had scored along with his head in his Premier League profession.
In a uncommon second of concern for the Metropolis defence, Brighton almost snatched a direct equaliser, however Lewis Dunk’s header was too near Ederson.
Guardiola’s males doubled their lead within the twenty sixth minute due to a stroke of luck when Foden gained a doubtful free-kick.
Foden did not waste the chance, unleashing a strong shot that took a depraved deflection off Pascal Gross because it flashed previous the wrong-footed Steele.
The England ahead’s twenty third objective in all competitions this season was adopted by his twenty fourth eight minutes later.
Metropolis’s relentless urgent panicked Brighton’s Valentin Barco into surrendering possession to Bernardo Silva and Foden seized on the unfastened ball, driving a scientific end into the far nook from 12 yards.
Alvarez had scored as soon as in his earlier 16 video games and Haaland’s substitute ended that barren run along with his first league objective since January within the 62nd minute.
Walker misplaced management of the ball after breaking into the realm, however his lunging sort out stopped Steele accumulating it and Alvarez pounced to fit house from shut vary.
