Kevin De Bruyne turned on the style to power Manchester City to a much-needed 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. The Belgian teed up Bernardo Silva for the opener and scored City's second. Pep Guardiola's side are now nine points behind leaders Liverpool.
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| Image: Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring Liverpool's third goal of the game |
Rejuvenated Kevin De Bruyne - left out of the starting XI for the defeat to Liverpool last weekend - was the instigator of everything good about City's free-flowing attacking play, crafting the first goal and scoring the second.
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"He played 75 fantastic minutes, I'm so happy he's back," reflected Pep Guardiola of De Bruyne, who has been blighted by injuries and only managed five starts this season.
Manchester City's 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest puts City back in the Premier League top four
The hosts worked the opener from wide, as under-fire Ilkay Gundogan floated into space before dinking a cross towards the head of the Belgian, and he worked the ball seamlessly to Bernardo Silva for a simple tap-in.
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Pep Guardiola returned to a more familiar formation after such a poor showing at Liverpool. Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku were restored to the wings, while Kevin de Bruyne and Josko Gvardiol also came back in. Phil Foden missed out with illness.
Player ratings:
De Bruyne shines
Man City: Ortega (6), Akanji (5), Ake (6), Dias (7), Gvardiol (7), Gundogan (6), Doku (7), Bernardo (8), De Bruyne (9), Grealish (8), Haaland (6).
Subs: Walker (6), Lewis (6), Nunes (n/a), Savinho (n/a), McAtee (n/a).
Nottm Forest: Sels (6), Moreno (6), Murillo (7), Milenkovic (6), Aina (7), Dominguez (6), Yates (6), Silva (5), Gibbs-White (6), Elanga (6), Wood (6).
Subs: Morato (5), Awoniyi (6), Anderson (6), Moreira (5), Sosa (6).
Player of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne
OTHER RESULTS
Southampton 1- Chelsea 5
Chelsea thrash bottom-side Southampton 5-1 to move second and seven points behind leaders Liverpool. Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho scored. Saints captain Jack Stephens was sent off for hair-pulling in first half.
The Blues made seven changes for the trip to St Mary's and still produced a fine attacking display that will only increase talk of a potential title challenge this season as they moved second.
Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0
Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0. Jurrien Timber and William Saliba scored from corners as the Gunners showed their set-piece prowess. Mikel Arteta's side move seven points behind Liverpool, who drew with Newcastle.
Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Newcastle gave Arsenal the chance to close the gap and, after a frustrating first half against Amorim's well-drilled side, their set-piece prowess proved decisive.
In the absence of the injured Gabriel Magalhaes, it was Timber who made the breakthrough after half-time when he flicked home a wicked Declan Rice delivery at the near post for his first Arsenal goal.
Player ratings:
Timber stars
Arsenal: Raya (8), Timber (8), Saliba (8), Kiwior (7), Zinchenko (6), Partey (7), Rice (7), Odegaard (8), Martinelli (6), Saka (7), Havertz (7).
Subs: Merino (6), Trossard (6), Jorginho (6).
Man Utd: Onana (6), Mazraoui (7), De Ligt (6), Maguire (6), Dalot (6), Ugarte (6), Fernandes (6), Malacia (7), Mount (6), Garnacho (6), Hojlund (6).
Subs: Amad (7), Zirkzee (6), Rashford (6), Yoro (6), Antony (6).
Player of the Match: Jurrien Timber
Liverpool 3-3 Newcastle
Liverpool were pegged back by Fabian Schar's late equaliser as Newcastle held the Premier League leaders to a thrilling 3-3 draw at St James' Park.
Mohamed Salah was looking like the hero again for Liverpool after his late double saw the league leaders come from behind twice to lead Newcastle until the 90th minute.
However, Caoimhin Kelleher's late error allowed Schar to grab a share of the spoils for Eddie Howe's side as Liverpool dropped points in the race for the title.
Just moments later, Liverpool should have been ahead. Cody Gakpo's header dropped wide of the far post but Darwin Nunez couldn't apply a touch to put the visitors in front.
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