Early opener: Manchester Metropolis midfielder Jack Grealish celebrates scoring a second-minute objective towards Leicester (Oli SCARFF)
Jack Grealish ended his lengthy look forward to a Premier League objective as a Manchester Metropolis facet lacking Erling Haaland beat struggling Leicester 2-0 on Wednesday to go fourth within the desk.
England worldwide Grealish struck in simply the second minute — his first Premier League objective in 16 months — with Omar Marmoush additionally heading in the right direction within the first half on the Etihad Stadium.
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Victory took the reigning English champions again into the Champions League locations, though they’re nonetheless an enormous 22 factors behind runaway leaders Liverpool.
It additionally noticed them cope simply high quality with out Norway striker Haaland, who will likely be out of motion for as much as seven weeks after struggling an ankle damage in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth.
“It wasn’t straightforward with 10 gamers behind the ball within the field,” Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola instructed the BBC. “We missed the third objective to be extra relaxed, it is by no means over. However happy for an excellent efficiency.
“We by no means give as much as discover the third objective. A efficiency that nothing mistaken occurred, everybody centered, we missed a 3rd objective that is all.”
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Turning to Grealish’s objective, he added: “Not straightforward when you do not play repeatedly. Objective was good for him and enjoying in a extra central place, he is extra snug on the edges. He is enjoying actually good.”
Manchester Metropolis took simply two minutes to go in entrance towards second-bottom Leicester, who’ve misplaced seven successive league video games.
Jeremy Doku and Savinho mixed to carve open the Leicester defence earlier than Grealish slotted house from shut vary for his first league objective since December 2023.
Grealish’s long-awaited objective was missed by a whole lot of Metropolis followers, who stayed outdoors the stadium for the primary 9 minutes in protest on the membership’s take care of a third-party ticket resale firm.
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The protestors did get to see Metropolis double their benefit within the twenty ninth minute as Egypt ahead Marmoush lashed house after Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen made a hash of coping with Ruben Dias’s move.
Metropolis are as much as fourth place, one level forward of fifth-placed Newcastle and two in entrance of sixth-placed Chelsea, who face Tottenham of their recreation in hand on Thursday.
The highest 4 qualify for the Champions League routinely, whereas fifth place is more likely to additionally present a berth in Europe’s elite membership competitors.
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