Manchester City returned to the Premier League summit at Liverpool's expense after dispatching Cardiff City with ease.
Match Report
Manchester City eased back to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Cardiff City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
First-half goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane were enough to see off Neil Warnock's side, who offered only meek resistance in a match that took place just three days before they face fellow strugglers Burnley.
City, who handed a first Premier League start to Phil Foden, were scarcely required to break sweat as they moved a point above Liverpool at the summit with six games left to play.
Pep Guardiola's side have made a habit of starting strongly this season, and De Bruyne only needed six minutes to fire high into the net from a tight angle to the left of Neil Etheridge's goal, although both goalkeeper and defence will be disappointed at the way they conceded.
Player Rating
Match Events
6' GOAL! Man City 1-0 Cardiff City (De Bruyne)
GOALLLLLLLLL!! DE BRUYNE SCORES FROM A TIGHT ANGLE!!! 1-0 CITY!!!! The home side break the deadlock as the Belgian beats Etheridge at his near post with a left-footed strike. De Bruyne was played into space by Laporte and he did have options in the middle. Etheridge appeared to be looking that way and was caught by surprise as the midfielder angled his attempt towards goal and he duly found the net.
44' GOAL! Man City 2-0 Cardiff City (Sane)
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!! SANE HAMMERS HOME!!! 2-0 CITY!! The home side get the second goal they've been craving as Sane drills his strike past Etheridge. Mahrez turned his man inside and out down the right flank before supplying a cross to the back post. Jesus guided the ball back to an unmarked Sane with his chest. The German struck his effort first time - low and hard towards the bottom corner, leaving Etheridge with no chance. City are in command now.
68' CLOSE! Foden's shot hits the post
OFF THE POST! Foden strikes the post with a close-range effort from De Bruyne's corner. The ball came quickly to the midfielder in the box and he stuck out a leg to guide it towards goal, but his attempt smacked off the post and bounced to safety.
Line-ups
Man City XI: Fernandinho, Danilo, K. De Bruyne, Mahrez, A.Laporte, J. Stones, Ederson Moraes, Zinchenko, Sané, Gabriel Jesus, Foden
Subs: V. Kompany, David Silva, K. Walker, İ. Gündoğan, R. Sterling, Bernardo Silva, A. Murić
Cardiff City XI: L. Peltier, A. Gunnarsson, J. Hoilett, B. Écuélé Manga, S. Morrison, J. Bennett, N. Etheridge, J. Ralls, O. Niasse, Josh Murphy, Camarasa
Subs: B. Murphy, Leandro Bacuna, N. Mendez-Laing, G. Cunningham, K. Harris, Kenneth Zohore, Bobby De Cordova-Reid
EmbraceStarboy
321
13th straight win. 5th cleansheet in a row. No doubt the EPL title is returning back to Manchester!!!
ManCityFanForever
267
Liverpool your happy days are over, give our place back😂
Upwardly2015
220
Man City and Liverpool interchanging the top spot of the EPL on a weekly basis. This is interesting..I love the suspense. The message is, if i win, you can't afford to lose.
FahimJakaria
163
Now city has scored 83 and Liverpool scored 72,city conceded 21 and Liverpool 19...now the different is 9 goal🤧i don't think spurs or blue will beat them!!even Barca!😴
Zere8
115
Hoping City to lose point is as hard as winning a jackpot 🎰 [Crylaugh]
KINGLMD10S
111
there is just so much hype surrounding Liverpool and that is exactly the reason why city will win the premier league. just look at them. no slowing down. as it stands city is champion and it won't change. pep will make history and city will be the club under the spotlight. not Liverpool. go city go
maturyne
94
Liverpool at the top of the table is like an elephant on a small tree you don't know it got there but you are sure it will certainly fall down..... EPL has been handed to its official owners
iodine
92
1. Phil Foden (18y 310d) is the youngest player to make his first Premier League start for Manchester City since Jose Pozo against Leicester in Dec 2014 2. Manchester City have scored 17 goals inside the opening 15 minutes of their Premier League games this season, at least seven more than any other side. 3. Leroy Sane has had a hand in 24 goals in his last 21 appearances at the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City in all competitions (9 goals, 15 assists) 4. COME ON CITY!!! 💪💪 Title is coming home!
VanishPrasad
78
Liverpool : We will finally win the EPL. Manchester City: hold my apple juice
duucmnorst
66
The battle for 3rd and 4th is more exciting as we all know manchester city is going to walk away as league champions. Just waiting for liverpool to slip.
VanishPrasad
63
Key Opta facts - Manchester City have won 23 of their 25 home matches across all competitions in 2018-19 (L2), including 16 of 17 in the Premier League (L1). - Cardiff remain the only side in Premier League history to have never won a midweek match (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) in the competition (P11 W0 D3 L8). - Only Blackburn Rovers (18 in 1994-95) have ever scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes of their games in a single Premier League season than Manchester City have in 2018-19 (17). - Leroy Sane has had a hand in 24 goals in his last 21 appearances at the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City in all competitions (9 goals, 15 assists). - With an average age of 25 years and 139 days, Manchester City's starting XI against Cardiff was their youngest in a Premier League match since April 2011 against Sunderland (24y 341d).
DaMhztourage
55
Man City and Tottenham reclaim their respective positions as Liverpool and City continues their "Come down and Climb up exchange .
Aneel56
53
fascimtz
43
Just to remind City fans your neighbour Man U is waiting for you. 😊