Aymeric Laporte and Gabriel Jesus headers send Pep Guardiola’s side top

Manchester Metropolis returned to the highest of the Premier League for the primary time in two months with a 2-Zero win at Everton to ramp up the stress on title rivals Liverpool.

The Toffees’ weak spot at set-pieces was exploited with Aymeric Laporte scoring a header seconds earlier than half-time.

But it surely was credit score to the much-changed hosts in a new-look formation that it was Metropolis’s first shot on course.

Substitute Gabriel Jesus added the second within the seventh minute of added time.

In consequence Pep Guardiola’s facet went prime by advantage of their superior aim distinction over Liverpool, however having performed one match extra.

The Reds’ recreation in hand is in opposition to Manchester United on February 24 at Outdated Trafford.

There was a bit of Everton followers who, pre-match, had declared they had been pleased to see the crew lose if it meant damaging their neighbours’ title aspirations, however nobody might accuse Marco Silva’s facet of dropping out.

Metropolis struggled to interrupt down the 4-4-1-1 formation, which noticed captain-on-the-night Tom Davies offering the ahead momentum breaking from midfield and Dominic Calvert-Lewin doing an admirable job occupying John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.

Below-pressure supervisor Marco Silva’s huge name, leaving out main scorers Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson, was justified as much as the purpose once they once more conceded from a free-kick with seconds remaining within the first half.

Taking out two players who accounted for 19 of Everton’s 36 league goals this season made them more solid in open play, and it had the desired effect of blunting City, although not without their fair share of luck.

Leroy Sane, who was given the freedom of the left-wing with right-back Jonjoe Kenny tucking in, volleyed wide after just three minutes before crossing for Ilkay Gundogan to have a shot blocked.

From the resulting corner Laporte headed wide from three yards. It was a warning Everton failed to heed, despite all their good work in covering the hard yards to prevent City getting in behind them.

Gundogan’s close-range shot was deflected by Lucas Digne onto the crossbar and, after Bernard’s header looped large after hitting Kyle Walker, the Metropolis midfielder had claims for a penalty waved away after Andre Gomes’ problem.

The guests maintained their stress and Jordan Pickford made an excellent point-blank save from David Silva, though the flag had already gone up, incorrectly, for offside in opposition to Sane.

However in added time Idrissa Gana Gueye, again within the facet for the primary time since being denied a transfer to Paris St Germain, clattered Fernandinho 25 yards out and David Silva’s supply was met by a thumping Laporte header.

A 12th Premier League aim – and 17th in all competitions – conceded from a set-piece, excluding penalties, means Everton now have the worst report within the prime flight.

Sergio Aguero’s 58th-minute overhead kick might have sealed it however flashed large after Pickford got here for, and failed to assert, Gundogan’s cross.

Everton’s chasing of the sport performed into Metropolis’s arms however the introduction of Sigurdsson and Richarlison, and latterly Cenk Tosun, supplied the hope of snatching a degree because the guests struggled to press house their benefit.

They’d simply two photographs on course within the second half, one in all which was Jesus’ header with just about the final contact of the sport.

Whereas it was not a press release efficiency to ship a message to Liverpool, the onus is now on Jurgen Klopp’s crew to reply as they play Bournemouth on Saturday, 24 hours earlier than Metropolis host Chelsea.

A late header from Gabriel Jesus in harm time sealed the victory for Pep Guardiola’s facet to propell them above Liverpool within the league standings on aim distinction.