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Gabriel Jesus has scored four league goals for Manchester City this season
Pep Guardiola says he “has no doubts” about Gabriel Jesus’ ability to lead Manchester City’s attack, and the Brazilian could be proving his manager is right.
In the absence of regular leader Sergio Agüero, Jesús scored his seventh goal of the season in his latest win over Burnley.
Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Turf Moor restored City’s three-point lead at the top of the Premier League, but the 23-year-old Jesus’ credentials have been questioned.
“For the team, but especially for him, the striker needs to score goals,” Guardiola said.
“There’s no question about Gabriel. In the last game, he scored and got us all three points, and today he started and played really well.
“We love Gabriel all the time. We need his goals, he knows it, but his contribution in many ways is fantastic.”
Given that the 32-year-old Agüero still needs “a few weeks” to get back in shape after testing positive for coronavirus, City will have to trust Jesus.
He has scored in consecutive league games for the first time in 2020-21, after also scoring the winning goal against Sheffield United on Saturday.
His first game in the third minute against the Clarets on Wednesday brought his season’s league tally to four.
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Questions have been raised as to whether Jesus, who has scored 75 goals in 172 games for the club, is clinical enough to lead the line at City.
His expected goal rate (xG) of 3.95, the number of goals he is expected to score from the chances he has had, is on par with the four he has achieved in 13 games, but is behind leading forwards in the English top. flight.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored 15 goals with an xG of 11.42, Tottenham’s Harry Kane has a xG of 10.78 and has scored 12 goals, while his Spurs teammate Son Heung-min also has 12 goals but with a much smaller xG of 7.43.
City did not add a striker in the January transfer window, but goals have been shared across the team, with six players scoring five or more times this season.
Raheem Sterling, who scored second against Burnley, leads the way with 10, while Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan have contributed nine each.
City have scored 39 goals on 333 shots this season, a conversion rate of 8.7%, which is the 10th best in the division, but are assisted by a tight defense that has conceded just 13 goals so far.
BBC Radio 5 Live expert Pat Nevin said that “Jesus’ shooting percentages aren’t always brilliant, but he’s where the center forward wants to be,” highlighted by his poacher’s shot from close range against Burnley.
Nevin added: “Manchester City need a brilliant striker? Actually, I don’t necessarily think so. They need someone who can put the ball into the net.”
A true test of City’s offensive prowess will come Sunday when it travels to face Liverpool at Anfield (start at 16:30 GMT), though the champions are out of shape and seven points off the league leaders who have played a party more.
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Source: bbc.com
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