Man City keep faint title hopes alive, Everton and Arsenal in dour draw

Manchester City hit back to beat Leicester 3-1 as champions kept alive ir faint hopes of catching Premier League leaders Liverpool, while Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta got a glimpse of problems that lie ahead as Everton and Arsenal shared a dreadful 0-0 draw. City have been left trailing in Liverpool's wake this term and a defeat against second-placed Leicester would have been a fatal blow to ir bid for a third successive title. But goals from Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus gave Pep Guardiola's side a win that moved m within 11 points of Liverpool, who don't play this weekend due to ir involvement in Club World Cup.

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"I'm delighted with way we played. We created a lot. We kept going forward and played balls so simply," Guardiola said on Saturday.

"Kevin De Bruyne was incredible. He won game for us. His commitment is incredible. He's a spectacular player." Jamie Vardy had punished City's defensive weakness against counter-attack with a breakaway opener in 22nd minute.

But former Leicester winger Mahrez equalized with a deflected 30th-minute effort and Gundogan stroked home a 43rd-minute penalty after Raheem Sterling was tripped by Ricardo Pereira. Jesus extended third-placed City's lead from Kevin De Bruyne's cross in 69th minute to leave Leicester 10 points behind Liverpool. Liverpool, chasing a first English title since 1990, have a game in hand to bolster ir lead and also face Leicester on Boxing Day.

"To come here against that level of opponent was a good lesson for us. It shows that re's a long way to go for this group," Leicester manr Brendan Rodgers said.

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Elsewhere, former Napoli boss Ancelotti was confirmed as Everton's new manr on Saturday morning, 24 hours after Arteta left his role as Manchester City assistant coach to take charge of Arsenal. Both bosses were in Goodison Park stands with Duncan Ferguson and Freddie Ljungberg in temporary charge of Everton and Arsenal for final time. And lack of confidence of two sides struggling at wrong end of table was obvious in a match completely devoid of quality. A point leaves Arsenal 11th and Gunners have w won just once in ir last 13 games in all competitions.

Everton move up to 15th, but are only four points clear of relegation zone. Ferguson's role in Everton's impressive victory over Chelsea and draw at Manchester United in ir last two league games was eugh to ensure Scot a role in Ancelotti's backroom staff. "What a fantastic performance we put in. I couldn't have asked for any more from m, y've been incredible for me," Ferguson said. On Ancelotti, Ferguson added: "A guy of that pedigree coming here, I can't wait to start working under him." 

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Saints alive

Southampton climbed out of relegation zone at expense of Aston Villa, who have w lost ir last four league games. Danny Ings struck for Southampton in 21st minute at Villa Park, in-form striker pouncing after Shane Long's shot was saved to net his 12th goal of season and his sixth in his last seven games. Jack Stephens doubled Southampton's lead 10 minutes later with a header from James Ward-Prowse's corner.

Ings wrapped up Southampton's first win in three games when he punished Marvelous Nakamba's poor defending in 51st minute. Jack Grealish's fine 75th-minute strike was consolation for Villa, who sit three points behind Southampton. Despite having two goals ruled out after VAR reviews, Sheffield United climbed to within one point of top four as Oli McBurnie's 23rd-minute strike clinched a 1-0 win at Brighton.

Wolves moved into sixth place as y fought back for a 2-1 win at second-bottom rwich. Miguel Almiron bagged his first Premier League goal at 27th attempt to seal Newcastle's 1-0 win against Crystal Palace. Jay Rodriguez's 89th-minute goal handed Burnley a 1-0 win with ir first shot on target at Bournemouth.

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