EPL: Man City close gap on Liverpool after blitzing Aston Villa + other results

Three second-half goals ensured Manchester City climbed back into second place behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League after a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
City struggled to get going in the first half, with Villa having several chances to break the deadlock in the pouring Manchester rain.
However, the home side wasted no time after regrouping at the interval as Raheem Sterling latched on to a Gabriel Jesus flick before firing City in front 20 seconds into the second half.
It was the England international’s 13th goal of the season.
Jesus then almost grabbed a quick-fire second but Tyrone Mings cleared off the line, before David Silva found the net in the 65th minute, getting the faintest of touches to a Kevin De Bruyne cross.
Five minutes later Ilkay Gundogan made sure of another three points for City after he reacted first to a blocked shot to scissor-kick his strike into the net.
The result sees City climb back above Leicester City — after their record-equalling 9-0 victory at Southampton on Friday — with 22 points.
Liverpool, who host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, have 25.
The win, however, was tarnished by a late red card for Fernandinho.
“If we play like we did in the first half for the rest of the season we will be in the relegation places,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.
“After the first half we corrected something; sometimes it happens but the second half was good.”
Looking to avoid a second successive home league defeat, Guardiola made five changes from the City side that beat Atalanta in the Champions League in midweek.
Jesus was handed his first home start of the season up front.
The Brazilian had the game’s first chance in sodden conditions but fizzed an effort just wide.
Villa grew into the match and almost took the lead in the 23rd minute with City goalkeeper Ederson making an excellent double save.
City struggled to hit top gear but they should have gone into the interval in front after David Silva could only drag his effort wide from a good position.
Whatever Guardiola said at halftime had an immediate effect, though, as Sterling pounced to give City the lead. Jesus beat Mings in the air to set up Sterling, who cut on to his right foot before firing home.
“City’s first goal is just a lump from the goalkeeper,” Villa manager Dean Smith said.
“Tyrone Mings should do better and he knows that… a top player like Raheem Sterling puts it on the back of the net.”
David Silva celebrated as though he had got a touch to De Bruyne’s cross for City’s second.
But the goal was initially awarded to the Belgian after a long VAR check for a potential offside against Sterling.
A Premier League review after the match decided that David Silva was the correct scorer, adding to Villa’s frustration over the VAR offside check.
Gundogan soon had the result wrapped up for City after Bernardo Silva’s initial effort had been blocked.
Fernandinho’s late red card for two bookings gives Guardiola a headache with the Brazilian’s pending suspension set to leave City short at the back.
And City were lucky to not concede late on as Villa hit the post after a goalmouth scramble.
Lys Mousset’s second goal in as many games earned Sheffield United a 1-1 draw at West Ham United on Saturday, with the point sending the newly-promoted side seventh in the Premier League.
Somewhat against the run of play, Robert Snodgrass slid the ball into the net after being picked out by Andriy Yarmalenko on the stroke of halftime to give the hosts the lead.
October has become something of a difficult month for West Ham in recent years.
The Hammers having not tasted victory in their last nine October Premier League matches prior to Saturday’s encounter at London Stadium.
That pressure seemed to get to West Ham as the visitors had chance after chance to equalise before Mousset sneaked the ball home from a tight angle in the 69th minute.
West Ham had plenty of opportunities to win but they could not find a way past Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
The result means the visitors are now unbeaten in their last three, with West Ham without a win in their last five games in all competitions.
Lucas Digne’s own goal deep into stoppage time completed a superb comeback by Brighton to give them a thrilling 3-2 win over Everton in their Premier League showdown on Saturday.
The Toffees arrived in Brighton with one of the worst home records in the league and they soon found themselves behind.
Andre Gomes fouled Aaron Connolly to give Brighton a free kick on the edge of the area.
Pascal Gross drove the ball through the right side of a loose defensive wall and past keeper Jordan Pickford to open the scoring in the 15th minute
But it proved to be a short-lived lead as Brighton defender Adam Webster headed into his own net five minutes later.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sprung from the bench by the visitors in the 72nd minute and he put Everton ahead two minutes later.
He slotted the ball through the legs of keeper Mathew Ryan with his first touch.
With Everton looking like securing their first away win of the season, livewire Brighton forward Connolly was fouled in the box by Michael Keane.
The penalty was confirmed by VAR and Neal Maupay smashed the spot kick straight down the middle to make it 2-2.
The game looked set to end in a stalemate but substitute Leandro Trossard made one final raid up the left flank.
He fired a dangerous ball across the face of goal that Digne turned into his own net to give the home side a dramatic late winner.
Everton goal-scorer Calvert-Lewin was angry with his team’s inability to hold on in a game that they had dominated for long periods.
“We’re unbelievably frustrated,” he said.
“To take the lead late on and not even come away with a draw… it’s bad decision-making towards the end of the game. We have to work hard to turn it around.”
Brighton boss Graham Potter was in a much better mood following his 12th-placed side’s superb comeback.
“To turn it around like we did is an amazing feeling.
“It was an important moment to get the equaliser, and there was a feeling in the stadium for us to push on and get the win,” he told the BBC.
“We have earned a bit of luck. We didn’t play our best and it was a tough match, we had to dig deep,” he added.