Manchester City routed Aston Villa 4-1 to open up a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday after Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at Liverpool.
Roberto Mancini left Edin Dzeko, David Silva, Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero out of his starting lineup, but City were still too powerful for Villa, one of only four unbeaten sides in the league prior to the match.
Mario Balotelli’s fourth goal in as many games put City ahead on 28 minutes, the Italian striker hooking in an overhead-kick from close range after Villa failed to clear Adam Johnson’s corner.
Photo: Reuters
Johnson turned goalscorer for City’s second on 47 minutes, before Vincent Kompany made it 3-0 five minutes later. Stephen Warnock pulled one back for Villa, but City made it four through James Milner to leave Mancini’s men brimming with confidence heading into next weekend’s Manchester derby.
Mancini was particularly impressed by Balotelli’s attitude.
“He is working hard for the team. Mario can change in a moment, but I’m very happy because now this is 40 or 50 days he has worked well, played well. He is motivated because he is playing and he is scoring, that is important for him,” the coach said.
Third-placed Chelsea moved to within one point of United after comfortably easing past Everton 3-1 in the late kickoff at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Daniel Sturridge, John Terry and Ramires secured all three points for the Londoners, who had not beaten Everton at home in the league since 2006.
Substitute Apostolos Vellios scored Everton’s lone consolation goal.
In other games on Saturday, Bolton Wanderers moved off the bottom of the table with a 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic.
Bolton took the lead after four minutes when a Chris Eagles cross picked out Nigel Reo-Coker. Reo-Coker was awarded the goal, but replays appeared to indicate Latics defender Gary Caldwell got the final touch.
Mohamed Diame leveled for Wigan five minutes before the interval, but Bolton nosed back in front deep into first-half stoppage-time with a David Ngog strike. Eagles made it 3-1 two minutes into stoppage-time.
Blackburn Rovers fought back to snatch a 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, but it was not enough to prevent Rovers from slipping to the foot of the standings.
A fluky Heidar Helguson cross-shot handed QPR the lead on 16 minutes, but Blackburn struck back quickly with a powerful Christopher Samba effort to level.
In a battle of the Premier League newcomers, Norwich City downed Swansea City 3-1 at Carrow Road.
Norwich went 2-0 up after only 10 minutes thanks to Anthony Pilkington and Russell Martin, before Danny Graham gave the Swans hope. Pilkington’s second on 63 minutes sealed the points.
Stoke City bounced back from defeat against Swansea in their last outing to beat Fulham 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium after goals in the final 10 minutes from Jonathan Walters and Rory Delap.
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