When even Benjamin Mendy is scoring, it’s a sign of just how well the quadruple chase is going for Manchester City.
With the international break over, the runaway leaders started the Premier League title run-in with a 2-0 victory over third-placed Leicester, started by Mendy breaking the deadlock on Saturday (Sunday NZ time).
After Riyad Mahrez’s shot was punched clear by Kasper Schmeichel, Mendy eventually received the ball to curl in a low shot past the Leicester goalkeeper in the 58th minute.
After not scoring in his opening 39 league games for City, the third-choice left back now has two in his last six as Pep Guardiola’s side closes in on a third title in four seasons.
There was a more familiar name on the score sheet for the second in the 74th minute and a familiar creator of the goal.
After a precision through-ball from Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus passed to Raheem Sterling, who returned the ball for the forward to finish rather than shooting himself.
In the week when City looked to the future with Sergio Aguero’s end-of-season departure announced, this was a fourth goal in as many league games for Jesus on the Brazilian’s 24th birthday.
Sterling had come on in the second half for Aguero after starting three times for England in World Cup qualifiers.
With centre back John Stones and left back Joao Cancelo unused substitutes at the King Power Stadium, this was a lineup showing the depth of quality available as City moved 17 points ahead of Manchester United with seven games remaining, having played two games more than their neighbour.
The title will surely be sealed long before the final week of the season when supporters are due to be finally allowed back into Premier League grounds.
As this pandemic-condensed season nears an end, Guardiola will be needing to make use of the squad with City also pursuing glory in the Champions League, with a quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday (NZT), in the FA Cup, with a semifinal against Chelsea in two weeks, and a quicker shot of a title with this month’s League Cup final against Tottenham.
Leicester missed a chance to dislodge United from second but were helped out by fourth-place Chelsea suffering a shock loss to West Bromwich Albion, as the 2016 champions pursue qualification for the Champions League for the first time since then.
Chelsea’s 5-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge came after Thiago Silva was sent off in the first half.
The experienced Brazilian defender was back in the side, following an injury absence, for the first time in 10 matches, but was shown the red card in the 29th minute following two bookings.
It was German coach Thomas Tuchel’s first defeat with Chelsea, in his 15th game in charge.
Down a goal, Matheus Pereira struck twice in two minutes in first-half stoppage time to give second-bottom West Brom, who almost need a miracle to avoid relegation, a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Callum Robinson grabbed the third goal when he swept home a cross from Darnell Furlong in the 63rd minute, and five minutes later, Mbaye Diagne drilled in a low shot to put West Brom 4-1 up.
Mason Mount tapped in from close range after good work by Timo Werner for Chelsea, before Robinson clipped the ball over goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to complete a surprise scoreline.
Elsewhere, Liverpool outclassed Arsenal from start to finish in a 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium, with a brace for substitute Diogo Jota and a nutmeg from Mohamed Salah reviving the team’s hopes for a top-four spot.
It was a morale-boosting win for Liverpool, lifting last season’s champions up to fifth place with 49 points, two behind Chelsea, while Arsenal seem destined for mid-table mediocrity, remaining in ninth.
In the day’s other match, Phil Jagielka’s own-goal gave Leeds a 2-1 win over Sheffield United, consigning the last-place team to a 24th Premier League defeat of the season.
Leeds passed the 40-point mark with their 13th win of their first season back in the Premier League after 16 years, moving into 10th place.
