Manchester City went some way towards making up for their loss against Arsenal before Christmas, getting a dominant 4-1 win over a struggling Sunderland side and closing the gap on Leicester City – who lost against Liverpool.
This is how we rate the Man City players following their 4-1 win:
GK) Joe Hart – 6.5
Barely anything to do all game, but will have been disappointed at losing his clean sheet.
RB) Bacary Sagna – 7.5
A solid performance, although barely had anything to do defensively. Offered a good outlet going forward and allowed Kevin De Bruyne to regularly move infield.
LB) Aleksander Kolarov – 7.0
A bit of a ghost down the left, when really he should have done more against a poor Sunderland side.
CB) Eliaquim Mangala – 7.0
Again we didn’t see much of Mangala, but he dealt with Steven Fletcher well. Possibly should have scored from a corner at one point.
CB) Nicholas Otamendi – 7.0
Taken off for Vincent Kompany, who City have badly missed. But the Belgian was unfortunately substituted himself a few minutes later.
DM) Fernandinho – 7.5
When not playing one of the bigger boys, Fernandinho gives the likes of Yaya Toure and David Silva the freedom to get forward without worrying too much about the counter attack.
CM) Yaya Toure – 7.5
Another great goal, but nothing else hugely spectacular from the Ivorian. He just doesn’t look motivated at the moment.
CAM) David Silva – 7.5
Ran things in midfield and looks somewhere like getting back to his best.
RAM) Kevin De Bruyne – 8.5 (MotM)
Two assists and a goal, unquestionably the Man of the Match. He was a constant thorn in Sunderland’s side, and the fact that they never knew whether he’d play the long ball or get up close and personal with quick one-twos meant they just couldn’t deal with him.
LAM) Raheem Sterling – 7.5
Booked early on for diving, but scored an uncharacteristic headed goal and caused Sunderland real problems with his pace and trickery.
ST) Wilfried Bony – 7.0
A great goal, some excellent hold-up and link-up play, but a truly shocking penalty miss in the second half.