EVERYONE has known it for months – but the blindingly obvious became official on the south coast last night.
Pep Guardiola’s City are the second best team in English football and
they will now complete the season as runners-up after Raheem Sterling’s hat-trick sunk Brighton.
Man City star Raheem Sterling’s all-action display was rewarded with a treble, rounded off with a freak headerCredit: AP:Associated Press
It’s a triple header for Raheem Sterling as he nods in his third goal and Man City’s fifth without knowing too much about itCredit: AP:Associated Press
Man City’s fellow scorers Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva celebrate with Raheem Sterling amid a breeze at Brighton for the visitorsCredit: EPA
They are some way off Liverpool and embarrassingly so for Guardiola.
But this was a reminder that for the time being at least, they are
still considerably better than the rest.
No sooner had third-placed Chelsea trooped off the pitch at Sheffield
United with another defensive shambles away in a 3-0 loss, City flexed
their muscles up front for another easy win.
Sterling became City’s second highest Premier League scorer
as he moved to 65, three above Yaya Toure.
If Sterling is to catch Sergio Aguero, he only needs to find the
target another 116 times.
DEPRESSING GAP
Against a Brighton side who are already safe, Gabriel Jesus grabbed
his 20th goal of the season while Bernardo Silva got the fourth.
For Guardiola, this was a satisfying performance, particularly as he
changed his entire back four from the side which battered Newcastle
5-0
City still have three meaningless League games to come starting with
Bournemouth on Wednesday. Watford and Norwich provide the opposition
for the final two matches.
Now, the real focus will now be on Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final
against Arsenal and – potentially after an appearance back at Wembley
in the final – the home Champions League fixture against Real Madrid
on August 7.
And while Kevin de Bruyne continues to sparkle, City need Sterling at
his very best and he has scored 26 times for City, his best ever tally
in a season.
Raheem Sterling watches as he plants Man City in front from outside the area with a precise finish on 21 minutesCredit: AP:Associated Press
Gabriel Jesus reacts quickest to double the Man City lead just before half-timeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Impressive Bernardo Silva was on hand with this rebound finish to make it 4-0 to Man City after 56 minutesCredit: AP:Associated Press
This is pretty impressive when you consider he went off the boil as he
went into 2020 and went 12 matches without scoring.
But he scored in the first game of the restart – in the 3-0 win
against Arsenal – and has not looked back.
After City wasted several decent chances, Sterling scored with a
terrific strike from outside the box.
Jesus flicked Mahrez’s ball towards the England international who took a couple of touches to take the ball beyond Martin Montoya and Adam Webster before picking his spot in the corner.
City’s second goal was also well crafted. Rodri headed De Bruyne’s
corner towards the far post and Jesus lost his marker, Bernardo, to
score quite possibly the easiest goal of his career.
De Bruyne belted a hit a free-kick against the post but Sterling found
plenty of space between Webster and Montoya to head the third
following another good Mahrez delivery.
ABSOLUTELY COMICAL
SIlva scored the fourth on the rebound after Maty Ryan made a complete
mess – although Jesus did well to make a nuisance of himself – and you
feared a total humiliation for Graham Potter’s side but City relaxed.
For Brighton, this was an end to a nasty spell of home games inside 11
days with the matches against Manchester United and Liverpool also
ending in defeats.
But Brighton’s wins over Arsenal and Norwich – and a point at
Leicester – means they will deservedly remain in the Premier League.
Equally, this was the latest proof of the depressing gap between the
top two in the Premier League and the rest.
This was the 32nd time City have scored four goals or more in a
Premier League game under Guardiola since the start of 2016-17 season.
And even though there is nothing to play for over the next couple of
weeks in the League, we will probably get at least one more City
landslide before the season is done.
The fifth goal was absolutely comical.
Sterling caused more problems but as he fell to the ground – with home
keeper Ryan and Webster getting in a pickle – the ball hit the City
star’s head.
It was definitely going in although Dan Burn hit the ball against the
post and over the line.
Pep Guardiola not looking past Champions League ‘kings’ Real Madrid with Man City facing Ronaldo’s Juventus if they do
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
