AP, Manchester :
Raheem Sterling scored his fourth goal of the week as Manchester City beat Aston Villa 3-0 Saturday and cut the gap to Premier League leader Liverpool to three points.
Villa held City at bay in a goalless first half, but Sterling scored within a minute of the restart.
In unusually direct style for City, Gabriel Jesus knocked an Ederson clearance forward for Sterling, who took two touches before scoring through Tom Heaton’s legs.
It was Sterling’s 17th goal in 18 games for City and England this season, coming after a Champions League hat trick against Atalanta on Tuesday, but only his second Premier League goal since August.
Despite desperate defending from Villa, including a goal line clearance by Tyrone Mings, City had added two more by the 70th.
“I think we had some difficulty with a lack of intensity and the rhythm wasn’t there but we started the second half really well,” City’s Kevin De Bruyne said.
A curling cross-shot from De Bruyne eluded everyone and went into the net for 2-0, despite Villa’s pleas that Sterling was offside, and a possible touch from David Silva. De Bruyne said “I’ve no idea” who should be credited with the goal.
Ilkay Gundogan made it 3-0 when Villa failed to clear a corner.
The win sees City retake second place from Leicester, which beat Southampton 9-0 on Friday. City sits three points behind Liverpool, though the league leader can restore a six-point gap with a win Sunday over struggling Tottenham.
With Rodri injured in the Atalanta game, Pep Guardiola started Fernandino and John Stones at center back. Following a muscle injury, it was Stones’ first start for City since the 3-2 defeat to Norwich on Sept. 14.
