Football news - Super-sub Sterling scores with first touch as Manchester City beat Everton

Gabriel Jesus notched a brace and Raheem Sterling scored with his first touch as Manchester City moved back to the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 victory over Everton at Etihad Stadium.

The Brazilian registered his first league goals since August with a cool first-half finish and a bullet header, as the Citizens bounced back from their first league loss of the campaign at Chelsea last weekend.

Toffees boss Marco Silva opted for five at the back to try to stifle the hosts' attacking power, but they rarely managed to subdue Pep Guardiola's men, with Leroy Sane and Jesus particularly menacing. Sane assisted both opening goals.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin did reduce the arrears for the visitors just past the hour, but substitute Sterling - who had endured a testing week in the spotlight off the pitch - put paid to the Toffees' hopes of rescuing a point when he nodded in within minutes of coming off the bench.

The result means City maintain their formidable home record in the league this term and move two points ahead of second-placed Liverpool, who host Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

Everton stay seventh, but could end the weekend lower if results go against them.

City react as expected to push the pressure Liverpool's way. The Citizens were well worth their victory and never looked like losing back-to-back league matches for the first time in two years. Guardiola would have expected his side to put in a performance after their defeat at Chelsea, and he will have been satisfied with how his players controlled the proceedings against a tricky opponent. The win was a must to crank up the heat on Liverpool ahead of their clash with Manchester United on Sunday, and they duly delivered. The City boss will also be pleased to have brought on Kevin De Bruyne for his first appearance since November 1 following injury, as the champions look ahead to a busy festive period.

Gabriel Jesus (Man City): Led the line well and took his sixth and seventh goals of the season with aplomb. The Brazilian linked up well with the impressive Sane and worked hard throughout.

MAN CITY: Ederson 6, Walker 6, Laporte 7, Otamendi 7, Delph 7, Gundogan 8, Bernardo Silva 7, Fernandinho 8, Sane 8, Mahrez 7, Jesus 9. Subs: Sterling 7, De Bruyne 6, Foden n/a.

EVERTON: Pickford 6, Coleman 6, Keane 6, Mina 6, Zouma 6, Digne 7, Gomes 6, Bernard 6, Sigurdsson 6, Calvert-Lewin 7, Richarlison 6. Subs: Walcott 6, Lookman 7, Davies n/a.

Matchcast: Full match stats and commentary

15' - EVERTON CHANCE! Digne robs Walker inside his own penalty area and hangs a lovely ball to the far post for Richarlison, who somehow contrives to blaze it over on the volley.

22' - GOAL! Man City 1-0 Everton. Jesus coolly fires past Pickford from the left of the area after Sane had slipped a delightful pass into his path. Everton will rue some poor play trying to move it out from the back, as Mina's dreadful clearance was key to City opening them up with two simple passes.

41' - MAN CITY CHANCE! Pickford leaps to his right to produce a stunning stop to deny Mahrez's thumping strike from 10 yards out.

50' - GOAL! Man City 2-0 Everton. Jesus at the double! The Brazilian bullets a header beyond Pickford from Sane's sublime left-wing cross.

65' - GOAL! Man City 2-1 Everton. The visitors pull one back as Calvert-Lewin nods Digne's lobbed cross into the corner.

69' - GOAL! Man City 3-1 Everton. City restore their two-goal cushion as Sterling coolly nods Fernandinho's dinked cross from the left into the net.

72' - EVERTON CHANCE! Richarlison exchanges passes with Lookman, but lashes over the bar from 18 yards out.