Manchester City took advantage of Arsenal’s latest slip to reduce the gap at the top of the Premier League to two points after beating Sunderland 3-0 at the Etihad.
The door had been left open by the league leaders, who fell to Emiliano Buendia’s 95th-minute winner at Villa Park in the early kick-off, giving Pep Guardiola’s side all the incentive they needed to properly reinvigorate the title race.
An efficient first half saw City two goals up with their only two strikes on target as Ruben Dias rifled in a stunning opener from range and fellow centre-back Josko Gvardiol rose highest to Phil Foden’s in-swinging corner. Combined the efforts held an xG value of just 0.20.
Guardiola had called for less chaos after shipping eight goals in their last three league outings, but after a business-like first half, City once again let standards slip in the second, needing Gianluigi Donnarumma to deny Wilson Isidor in a 1v1 before Granit Xhaka struck the post.
Ruben Dias scored a screamer to open the scoring
Chasing championships requires deeper resolve, though, and after a brief scare City were able to make sure of victory when the sensational Rayan Cherki teed up Foden for his fifth goal in three games with an inch-perfect rabona. And there was still time for Sunderland’s situation to worsen when Luke O’Nien was sent off seven minutes after coming on for a rash, high challenge on Matheus Nunes.
City reclaim second while Sunderland, suffering their heaviest league defeat of the season, slip a place to seventh.
Player of the match: Rayan Cherki
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Manchester City forward Rayan Cherki pulls off a rabona cross to set-up Foden header against Sunderland at the Etihad!
No one epitomised Man City’s class more than Cherki, who completed the most dribbles (five) and created the most chances (six) of any player on the park, while chipping in with six defensive actions. His expected goals and assists total (1.21) was also a game high, alongside 111 touches of the ball.
He did not get the goal his performance deserved but a pair of assists – the second outrageously good – was enough to command a standing ovation from the Etihad crowd when he departed on 82 minutes. Cherki has now contributed as many assists (five) as he’s earned starts this season.
