Gabriel Jesus struck twice to get Manchester City back to winning ways and back up to second in the Premier League with a 4-1 victory at Burnley on Tuesday night.
City -- who fell further away from runaway leaders Liverpool at the weekend -- closed back to within eight points of Jurgen Klopp's side in the table ahead of the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night.
Jesus, in again for the injured Sergio Aguero, netted his third and fourth Premier League goals of the season either side of half-time, breaking his eight-game barren run for City.
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Rodri and Riyad Mahrez then capped the win in the second half, to secure a great result for City as they head towards the Manchester derby on Saturday evening - which is live on Sky Sports Premier League. Robbie Brady notched a late consolation for Burnley, which was significant in denying City a clean sheet for an eighth game in a row in all competitions.
Jesus inspires City at Turf Moor
City had the ball in the net after six minutes when Angelino's shot from range was smartly flicked home by Jesus, but the Brazilian was rightly flagged for offside. When he next found the net after 24 minutes, though, it was the opener and it was brilliant.
A swift counter-attack was launched by City as Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri combined to find David Silva. He then slipped in Jesus, who cut inside the area from the left and curled an absolute beauty into the side netting past the helpless dive of Nick Pope.
Soccer
Pope could do little about that one, but did brilliantly to deny City twice more before half-time. First, after 34 minutes, he stopped Raheem Sterling from close range after De Bruyne's low cross into the six-yard box. Then, after 43 minutes, he kept out Bernardo Silva's low drive with his leg after a swift City counter.
Shortly after the break, however, City did manage to double their lead. It came after 50 minutes as they worked the ball from side to side and found Bernardo, who whipped a fine cross in for Jesus to volley into the roof of the net.
City's third after 68 minutes was even more emphatic. Rodri netted just his second goal for the club with a thunderous effort after Ben Mee's headed clearance dropped kindly into his path.
Their fourth was even better as Mahrez grabbed his 50th Premier League goal in trademark fashion, dribbling to the edge of the area before drilling a shot home. Burnley then went up the other end and struck back as another substitute, Robbie Brady, fired into the roof of the net.
Player ratings
Burnley: Pope (6), Bardsley (5), Tarkowski (5), Mee (5), Pieters (4), Cork (5), Hendrick (5), Drinkwater (5), McNeil (5), Lennon (5), Wood (5)
Subs: Barnes (5), Rodriguez (5), Brady (7)
Manchester City: Ederson (7), Walker (6), Otamendi (6), Fernandinho (7), Angelino (7), Rodri (8), Silva (8), Bernardo (8), De Bruyne (7), Sterling (6), Jesus (9)
Subs: Mahrez (7), Foden (n/a), Garcia (n/a)
Man of the match: Gabriel Jesus
Team news
Sean Dyche made three changes for Burnley as Erik Pieters, Danny Drinkwater and Aaron Lennon came in following the 2-0 loss at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday. Charlie Taylor, Robbie Brady and Ashley Barnes dropped out.
Pep Guardiola made four changes to his Mancheter City side. Nicolas Otamendi, Angelino, Rodri and Bernardo Silva all came in for John Stones, Benjamin Mendy, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez.
Man of the match: Gabriel Jesus
It had been a while since Jesus had scored for City. He has suffered at times playing second fiddle to Aguero, but back in the starting XI for the second game he looked sharper and took both his goals superbly.
Opta stats
- Manchester City have won back-to-back top-flight away games against Burnley for the first time since March 1968.
- This was the 36th time that Manchester City have won a Premier League game by three-plus goals under Pep Guardiola -- the most of any team in the competition since the start of 2016/17 season.
- Each of Gabriel Jesus' last 11 goals in all competitions for Manchester City have been scored away from the Etihad Stadium, with the first in this run coming in last season's FA Cup semi-final against Brighton.
- David Silva has made six assists from open play in the Premier League this season; just one fewer than he managed in 33 appearances in the competition last term (seven assists from open play).
What's next?
Burnley travel to face Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday; kick-off is at 3pm. Manchester City host Manchester United live on Saturday Night Football. Coverage starts on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event at 5pm with kick-off at 5.30pm.