Man City move clear at the top as United held at Arsenal


Soccer Football – Premier League – Manchester City v Sheffield United – Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain – January 30, 2021 Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus scores their first goal Pool via REUTERS/Martin Rickett

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Manchester City beat bottom club Sheffield United 1-0 to move three points clear of Manchester United who were held to a goalless draw at Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ disappointing campaign continued with a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace but Newcastle United ended their poor run of form with an impressive 2-0 win at Everton.

A ninth-minute goal from Brazilian Gabriel Jesus gave City a 1-0 win over Sheffield United who had delivered the title-chasers a major boost with their midweek win at Manchester United.

Jesus slotted home from close range after Ferran Torres took advantage of poor defending to wriggle free and pick out his unmarked team mate.

City were not at their slickest best against Chris Wilder’s well-organised defence, although goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale did well to keep out a fine drive from Oleksandr Zinchenko and Aymeric Laporte’s header.

The visitors threw on attacking players as they looked to sneak a point and they gave Pep Guardiola’s side a scare with a late John Fleck effort that flashed wide. City have 44 points from 20 games with United three points behind but having played a game more. Third-placed Leicester City could leapfrog Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side with a win over Leeds United on Sunday.