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Raheem Sterling seals victory as Manchester City see off Everton to go top of the table

Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring City’s third goal with Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker
Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring City’s third goal with Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker

Gabriel Jesus scored twice, and substitute Raheem Sterling once, as Manchester City moved back to the top of the Premier League with a fine 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday.

City suffered their first league defeat of the season at Chelsea last weekend, but they’ve bounced back quickly enough, beating Hoffenheim in the Champions League in midweek and now deservedly seeing off a very decent Everton team.

Now City will watch as their main title rivals Liverpool entertain Manchester United on Sunday.

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Raheem Sterling heads home City’s clinching third goal at the Etihad
Raheem Sterling heads home City’s clinching third goal at the Etihad

The visitors started brightly at the Etihad, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin fired a fine shot at goal that was turned round the post by Ederson. Calvert-Lewin was adjudged to be in an offside position, but Everton had shown their intent to be positive where possible.

Then, after a quarter of an hour, Lucas Digne set up Richarlison, who got his technique all wrong and volleyed over the crossbar.

This Manchester City team are just too powerful though, and they began to get on top. Everton had a fortunate escape when a Ilkay Gundogan cross was deflected towards his own goal by Michael Keane, forcing Jordan Pickford into a fine save.

City went in front after 22 minutes, a clearance from Yerry Mina only going as far as Gundogan, who passed straight to Leroy Sane, who in turned played in Jesus to race into the penalty area and slot home under Pickford.

Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring with Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva
Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring with Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva

It was largely damage limitation for Everton for the rest of the first half, with Riyad Mahrez turning and firing a powerful half-volley at goal, forcing Pickford into a smart save.

And just before half-time, Mahrez set up Jesus to put the ball into the net again, but the goal was chalked off because the Brazilian had strayed offside.

The second half was a terrifically entertaining affair and within five minutes of the restart, City struck again, Sane crossing in with expert precision and Jesus heading powerfully into the net.

Everton wouldn’t go away however, and were given a lifeline after 65 minutes when some slack play from City at the back allowed Lucas Digne to cross in and Calvert-Lewin head home, via the head of Fabian Delph.

Typically City responded with a third goal four minutes later. Substitute Sterling has had a turbulent week – he received alleged racist abuse from Chelsea fans during City’s clash at Stamford Bridge last Saturday – but he ended it on a high. Fernandinho, with little space to work with, clipped over a fine cross and Sterling, just after he came on the pitch, headed home.

Gabriel Jesus scores for City against Everton at the Etihad
Gabriel Jesus scores for City against Everton at the Etihad

The match was pretty much won then, and the majority of fans headed home happy on a cold and wet Manchester afternoon.

This is developing into some title race. City now face a League Cup quarter-final with Leicester before they can focus on festive fixtures against Crystal Palace, Leicester and Southampton. Then comes what could be a titanic clash with Liverpool on January 3.

That can all wait for now. City have already done their job this weekend. They’re top of the pile again.