Review: Man City keep in touch with leaders

David Silva and James Milner score as City beat Leicester on night when all top five BPL sides win

 

Manchester City maintained their hopes of retaining their Barclays Premier League title with a 2-0 home win against Leicester City as all of the top five sides in action secured victories. 

David Silva broke the visitors' resistance in first-half stoppage time before James Milner came off the bench to wrap up the points late on and ensure the champions bounced back from Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Liverpool.

Man City started the evening five points behind leaders Chelsea having played a match more, and that is how they finished it despite being frustrated by Nigel Pearson's men for long periods.

It could have been very different had Riyad Mahrez hit the target rather than the post late on, while the hosts spurned a string of late chances before Milner's effort secured the spoils.Leicester, however, remain rooted to the foot of the table, seven points from safety.

Arsenal maintained their challenge for third place with a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. Second-half goals from Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez secured all three points for Arsene Wenger's side, who were denied the chance to extend their gap over Manchester United when Louis van Gaal's side scored late on to beat Newcastle United.

Daniel Sturridge celebrated his return to Liverpool's starting line-up with a goal in a routine 2-0 home win over Burnley that lifted Brendan Rodgers' side up to fifth. Sturridge, who had started just one league match since August, has been used sparingly by Rodgers in recent weeks but he showed no signs of sluggishness in an excellent performance at Anfield, doubling Liverpool's lead early in the second half after stand-in captain Jordan Henderson had fired them in front in the 29th minute.

Henderson - who scored for the second Barclays Premier League match in a row - pulled the strings in a dominant midfield performance and also provided the cross for Sturridge's header as Liverpool extended their unbeaten league run to 12 matches. Burnley, meanwhile, lie 19th.

Tottenham Hotspur bounced back from their League Cup final heartbreak to overcomeSwansea City 3-2 in an exciting contest at White Hart Lane. Swansea endured a scare when Bafetimbi Gomis was taken off on a stretcher off after going to ground in the immediate aftermath of Nacer Chadli's early opener, though the Frenchman immediately appeared to be well and conscious.

Swansea responded well to both setbacks, Ki Sung-yueng equalising in the 18th minute. However, Mauricio Pochettino's men showed grit and determination to take the points. Spurs reclaimed control in the second half thanks to Ryan Mason's first BPL goal and Andros Townsend's solo effort put them in sight of a first home win in three outings. Although Gylfi Sigurdsson scored against his former side late on, Spurs held on with the help of an outstanding last-minute save by Hugo Lloris.

Elsewhere, Victor Moses and Mame Biram Diouf were both on target as Stoke City made it three league victories in a row with a 2-0 home victory over Everton. Mark Hughes' side were good value for their success at the Britannia Stadium on Moses struck in the first half when he out-jumped Phil Jagielka and John Stones to head past Tim Howard, with substitute Diouf wrapping up the points when he netted with seven minutes to go.