Manchester City enjoy the perfect preparation for their Champions League semi-final showdown against Real Madrid with a 4-0 thrashing of Stoke City.
Manchester City's Kelechi Iheanacho scores against Stoke City during
the English Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium on April 23, 2016
AFP/Lindsey Parnaby
LONDON: Teenager Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice as
Manchester City tuned up for their Champions League semi-final with Real
Madrid by sinking Stoke City 4-0 in the Premier League on Saturday (Apr
23).
Iheanacho, 19, struck twice within 10 second-half minutes, adding to
goals by Fernando and Sergio Aguero, to lift City, who host Madrid in
the first leg of their last-four tie on Tuesday, back above Arsenal to
third place.
Elsewhere, Rafael Benitez's Newcastle United came from 2-0
down to draw 2-2 at his former club Liverpool - whose French centre-back
Mamadou Sakho has failed a drugs test - to inch to within a point of
safety.
"A big team must always be focused on both competitions -- Premier
League and Champions League," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini.
"Every big team must do it every year.
"Kelechi Iheanacho is an important young player with a lot
of future. He scores lots of goals, but he is not just a penalty-box
player. I am sure that his role in this team will be very important."
With an eye on Madrid's visit, Pellegrini kept Belgian playmaker
Kevin De Bruyne on the bench at the Etihad Stadium and rested captain
Vincent Kompany altogether.
Fernando broke the deadlock with a header from Jesus Navas's
35th-minute corner and top scorer Aguero added a second from the
penalty spot after Ryan Shawcross had fouled Iheanacho.
Pablo Zabaleta teed up Iheanacho to slot in City's third goal in the
64th minute and the Nigeria international sealed the win by gathering
Wilfried Bony's pass and rounding substitute goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard
to score.
City move back above Arsenal, who visit struggling
Sunderland on Sunday, while Mark Hughes's Stoke, who have conceded four
goals in three successive games, slip to 10th.
HAZARD BREAKS DUCK
With Sakho watching from the stands after the revelation
that he is being investigated by European governing body UEFA over a
doping violation - reported to concern a weight-loss drug - Liverpool
were pegged back by Benitez's Newcastle at Anfield.
"I'm really pleased because of the passion and fight they
showed. A draw is fine for us at the moment," Benitez said. "It's a
bigger step because we can keep believing. Every game now for us is
massive. I have the Geordies and the Scousers on my side."
Daniel Sturridge chested down a high ball and swivelled to
fire Jurgen Klopp's side in front inside two minutes, with his England
colleague Adam Lallana bending in Liverpool's second goal on the
half-hour.
But Papiss Cisse brought the visitors back into the game
with a 48th-minute header before Jack Colback drove in a deflected
66th-minute leveller to take Newcastle to within a point of
fourth-bottom Norwich City and prevent seventh-place Liverpool closing
on the European berths.
"It's not our best day," Klopp said. "Usually we should win a game in
this situation but have to accept it. "It was an intensive game. Nobody
understands why Newcastle are in the relegation zone."
Eden Hazard, last year's Player of the Season, scored his
first two league goals of the campaign - a year since his last - as
outgoing champions Chelsea won 4-1 at Bournemouth to climb to ninth.
Pedro Rodriguez and Willian were also on target for Chelsea, with Tommy Elphick hitting back for the home side.
Meanwhile, Dusan Tadic scored twice, in between headed goals
from Shane Long and Sadio Mane, as Southampton won 4-2 at relegated
bottom club Aston Villa, for whom Ashley Westwood scored twice.
Leaders Leicester City can take another step closer to a fairytale
title triumph on Sunday when they welcome Swansea City to the King Power
Stadium.
But should Claudio Ranieri's men slip up again, a week on
from their 2-2 draw with West Ham United, second-place Tottenham Hotspur
can take advantage at home to West Bromwich Albion on Monday.
Collated English Premier League results on Saturday:Aston Villa 2 Southampton 4
Bournemouth 1 Chelsea 4
Liverpool 2 Newcastle 2Manchester City 4 Stoke 0
- AFP/jo/ec
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