Manchester City brushed aside Watford to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points *
* The hosts scarcely moved out of second gear as they put five past relegation-threatened Watford
* Jesus scores four goals and assists on the other, emphasizing his importance to Guard Iola’s team. Liverpool is under renewed pressure before of their match against Everton on Sunday.
It will be interesting to see what happens to Gabriel Jesus this summer, and whether the Brazil forward sees Erling Haaland's impending arrival at Manchester City as an opportunity to depart the club in search of more regular playing time.
Jesus is an essential component of any team looking for as much silverware as City, so it's difficult to believe the Premier League champions will be forcefully pushing him out the door at the conclusion of the season.
Jesus' four goals gave City a four-point advantage at the top of the table, putting pressure on Liverpool to respond fast in the Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday.
On an afternoon when he was nearly unplayable for a Watford side who, despite pulling a goal back through Hassane Kamara after falling down 2-0 after 23 minutes, could not deal with their opponents' attacking quality, he also set up Rodri for the other goal. "This afternoon was my day, and I'm overjoyed," Jesus added. It was without a shadow of a doubt.
Jesus, who was brought in as a long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero, prefers to play as a wide forward these days rather than a traditional striker, but he caused havoc with Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling all over the pitch.
When Jesus won a penalty after being brought down by Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster 14 seconds into the game, De Bruyne stood aside to let Jesus to complete his hat-trick, which he dutifully did. With a clean finish following outstanding work by Sterling and Jack Grealish, Jesus scored his fourth and City's fifth goals after a one-two with De Bruyne. "I'd like to thank Kevin because he's the one who takes the penalties, but he told Gabby, 'This is for the hat-trick,'" the Brazilian explained.
This summer, Jesus' contract will expire after a year, but Pep Guardiola believes he will stay. The City manager stated, "Every player is delighted here when he plays every 90 minutes every game." "Perhaps we can persuade him to extend his contract, or perhaps he will say, 'No, I want to leave,' but no one knows what will happen at the end of the season." Gabriel is a player with us; I'm not sure what will happen, but he is a Manchester City player. He is the only player in world football who deserves days like this."
Guardiola was allowed to bring on De Bruyne after 57 minutes, with one eye on Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, when he could be without Kyle Walker and John Stones, as well as Joao Cancelo, who is suspended.
De Bruyne had taken a knock to the foot in the build-up to Rodri's goal from Moussa Sissoko, which left him hobbling for a bit – a concern given that he needed sutures in his foot during the recent Atletico Madrid game – but he appeared to have overcome the problem fast enough.
“Kevin has been playing with some troubling niggles in his ankles due to the kicks he has - that's why, with the game almost over, I'm thinking I can give him a rest," Guardiola added. "Kevin would have stayed on if the score had been 2-1."
By the halftime break, City had scored three goals, and it could have been a lot more. Jesus was outstanding, scoring twice from close range to give City an early lead – the first a tap-in from the excellent Oleksandr Zinchenko's cross, the second a header from De Bruyne's sublime inswinging cross – and finding Rodri with a lovely clipped pass that the City midfielder controlled on his chest before hitting a bullet into the top corner from 25 yards out. He also set up two chances for Sterling, both of which the England striker squandered.
Watford's best moment of the game was their response, a superbly organized goal begun and finished by Kamara, who blasted his shot low into the far corner after being released by Emmanuel Dennis.
Watford appeared to be heading for relegation, but Roy Hodgson was not ready to give up just yet. "I'm not prepared to say it's a foregone conclusion," Watford manager Mark Hughes remarked.
"I don't believe we should accept relegation until we are." Any thoughts I have regarding the club will be given only if the owner requests them at the end of the season."
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