Ilkay Gundogan was in an inspired form to lead Manchester City to a comfortable 3-0 win over Everton on Sunday, Sportivationng.com reports.
The German International scored a brace and assisted Erling Haaland for the other goal.
Pep Guardiola’s men move four points clear of Arsenal, who are in action later at home to Brighton, with three games remaining for both sides.
City’s superior goal difference means five points from their remaining matches will likely be enough for a fifth title in six seasons.
Everton remain just one point outside the relegation zone and could slip into the bottom three if Leicester beat Liverpool on Monday.
By contrast to the Toffees’ troubles, City are still well on course for a treble and could afford the luxury of an afternoon off for some of their stars ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal, second leg against Real Madrid.
Guardiola made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 in the first leg in the Spanish capital on Tuesday with John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish left on the bench.
It took the visitors 35 minutes to find their rhythm, by which point they should have been behind as Mason Holgate somehow spooned over a glorious chance to open the scoring after James Tarkowski headed down a corner.
Within three minutes of Holgate’s sitter, the game was over as a contest.
Guardiola had stern words for Gundogan despite the German scoring twice in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Leeds after the midfielder missed a late penalty having been given the chance to complete his hat-trick by Erling Haaland.
For the fifth time under Pep Guardiola, Man City have won 11 consecutive Premier League games:
◎ 18 – Aug-Dec 2017
◎ 15 – Feb-Aug 2019
◎ 15 – Dec-Mar 2021
◎ 12 – Nov-Jan 2022
◉ 11 – Feb-PresentTwo more wins and they have another title. 🏆⏳ pic.twitter.com/KD2GDHKDSX
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 14, 2023
Gundogan made amends with a stunning touch to control and then flick home Riyad Mahrez’s cross in one movement to break the deadlock.
STOP THAT ILKAY!
The touch, the finish – marvelous from Gundogan 👌
City lead 2-0 against Everton.
📺 Stream #PL live: https://t.co/Tg69y0EeUL | #EVEMCI pic.twitter.com/jW8ETYfqKa
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 14, 2023
Moments later, he created the second with a floated cross that invited Haaland to power home his 52nd goal of the season with just his third touch in 39 minutes.
Gundogan curled a free-kick beyond the desperate dive of Jordan Pickford for his ninth goal of the season.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝑬𝒙𝒉𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 from Ilkay Gündogan 🤩#PL | #EVEMCI pic.twitter.com/WVse4ZWeRz
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 14, 2023
Goal difference could be decisive in the battle to beat the drop and Everton did at least manage to stop the bleeding at three.
Indeed the home side came closest to scoring in the final quarter when Amadou Onana’s header came crashing back off the crossbar. (AFP)
