Man City go top of the Premier League with win at Everton

Friday, 8 February 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Champions Manchester City went top of the Premier League with a disciplined 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday that saw them leapfrog Liverpool on goal difference.

Aymeric Laporte headed the opener just before the interval and substitute Gabriel Jesus sealed the victory deep in stoppage time for City, who returned to the league’s summit for the first time since Dec. 8.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football Premier League, Everton v Manchester City, Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan celebrates after the match, 6 February 2019 - REUTERS

Both City and Liverpool have 62 points, but Pep Guardiola’s side have played one game more than the Merseysiders, who have drawn their last two encounters and host Bournemouth on Saturday.

With Tottenham Hotspur on 57 points, the title race has turned into a genuine three-way tussle and while City rarely sparkled against Everton, it was a key win in a busy week in which they had already beaten Arsenal and host Chelsea on Sunday.

“Four or five days ago we could have been seven points behind, it is a lesson to never give up,” said Guardiola. “Now we have an incredible test on Sunday against Chelsea. I don’t know how far we will get, maybe we will die in the road, but we are trying.”

“We have played one more game than Liverpool, it’s good to be top but Liverpool (still) has a game at Old Trafford,” he added, referring to Liverpool’s match at Manchester United on Feb. 24.