Jack Grealish scored his first objective since a British-record $139 million transfer to Manchester City in a 5-0 win over Norwich on Saturday, serving to the champions earn the primary factors of their Premier League title protection.
The ball deflected in off the within of the England midfielder’s left leg from shut vary after a pushed cross by Gabriel Jesus flew throughout the face of the six-yard field.
That Twenty second-minute objective made it 2-0 for City, which went forward through an own-goal by Tim Krul when an tried clearance by Norwich defender Grant Hanley smashed unwittingly into the goalkeeper following a cross by Jesus.
Aymeric Laporte and substitutes Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez added additional objectives after halftime, persevering with Norwich’s robust begin to its return to the highest flight after a 3-0 loss to Liverpool final weekend.
City bounced again from a 1-0 loss at Tottenham within the opening spherical of the league season and Grealish is already trying like an integral member of Pep Guardiola’s workforce.
While he principally performed as an attacking central midfielder in opposition to Spurs, Grealish operated as a left winger in opposition to Norwich with Sterling beginning on the bench and Phil Foden nonetheless injured.
It stays to be seen the place Guardiola sees Grealish’s greatest place however his versatility will definitely turn out to be useful, particularly if City doesn’t handle to signal Harry Kane from Tottenham on this switch window.
City has two gamers greatest suited to enjoying as a middle ahead _ Ferran Torres and Jesus _ and each began at Etihad Stadium, with Torres because the striker and Jesus on the suitable.
Jesus was notably spectacular, albeit in opposition to modest opposition, and he arrange the primary two objectives.
Norwich labored within the second half as City confirmed off its power in depth.
After Laporte turned in a shot within the sixty fourth following a ricochet from a nook he initially flicked on, Sterling scored the fourth objective seven minutes later by tapping in a right-wing cross by Kyle Walker.
Mahrez accomplished the rout when he was performed by on objective by Ruben Dias’ lofted move and completed off the submit.
Liverpool beats Burnley 2-0 earlier than full home at Anfield
Liverpool marked its first recreation in entrance of a capability crowd at Anfield in almost 18 months by beating Burnley 2-0 on Saturday, with objectives by Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane incomes their workforce a second straight win to open the season.
Jota, who scored the primary objective in Liverpool’s 3-0 victory at Norwich final weekend, glanced in a header off a cross by left again Konstantinos Tsimikas within the 18th minute in entrance of The Kop.
Mane struck house a robust, low shot from a central place from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deft move within the 69th.
Since the final time there was a full home at Anfield _ in March 2020 _ Liverpool has gained the league title for the primary time in 30 years and relinquished it to Manchester City.
So there was one thing of a celebration ambiance for what ended up being a routine win in opposition to Burnley, which had claimed a shock victory in the identical fixture final season to finish Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten run at Anfield within the league.
There was additionally time for remembrance, with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson laying a wreath on the middle circle earlier than kickoff in reminiscence of Andrew Devine, who just lately turned the 97th particular person to die as a consequence of the Hillsborough stadium catastrophe in 1989. There was a mosaic on The Kop displaying the numbers “97” in addition to a minute’s silence.
A walkway outdoors Anfield has been renamed in tribute to Devine.
Burnley fielded a lineup with gamers carrying jerseys with the squad numbers 1-11, a rarity in modern-day soccer. Indeed, it was the primary time it had occurred within the Premier League since 1998, based on British broadcaster BT Sport.
Tsimikas is ready to lose his place within the workforce, with Andrew Robertson returning to health after a minor ankle ligament damage. The Greek defender’s parting reward was an help from a pinpoint supply into the penalty field, the place Jota acquired in entrance of Burnley middle again Ben Mee and guided a header low previous goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Mohamed Salah, needing two objectives to succeed in 100 within the Premier League after barely 4 seasons, had a objective disallowed for a slim offside halfway by the primary half, after which Mane volleyed over from one other move from Alexander-Arnold.
Burnley was fairly harmful on the break and off set items _ from one lengthy free kick, James Tarkowski beat Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson within the air however headed simply broad from the sting of the world _ however was subjected to wave after wave of assaults from the house facet within the second half.
Salah had a shot cleared from close to the road by Dwight McNeil and Mane had a low effort saved by the toes of Pope, who may do little in regards to the Senegal ahead’s thumping shot to make it 2-0. It got here on the finish of a sweeping transfer from Liverpool, that includes an extended ball ahead by Virgil van Dijk, who once more performed the complete recreation on his comeback from damage, and a few neat touches by younger midfielder Harvey Elliott, who additionally accomplished 90 minutes.
