Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described Gabriel Jesus as an “incredible fighter” and said his side “need” the forward after he scored twice as the champions got back to winning ways with a comfortable victory at Burnley.
City had won only once in their previous five games in all competitions and went into Tuesday’s match 11 points behind leaders Liverpool.
But they were convincing at Turf Moor with Jesus curling home a fine opener for his first goal in 11 games.
Jesus, now the third top scoring Brazilian in Premier League history, then volleyed home Bernardo Silva’s cross after the break.
Midfielder Rodri added a stunning third from 20 yards and substitute Riyad Mahrez netted a fourth to take them back into second place in the league.
Robbie Brady blasted in a late consolation for the Clarets, his first Premier League goal in more than two years.
The match had the unusual kick-off time of 20:15 GMT because it was being streamed live online by Amazon.
Leicester could move back above the champions if they get a point or more at home to Watford on Wednesday.
On City’s hopes of winning a third straight Premier League, Guardiola said sarcastically: “The title is over – that’s what I read. No-one gives us a chance, it’s done. No, I don’t believe it.
“Our team is stable and that’s what we want. For the distance we have against Liverpool it would be crazy to think about the title, honestly.
“It is about the next game.”
After a dispiriting month of results – a devastating defeat by Liverpool, two Champions League draws and a narrow win over Chelsea followed by a 2-2 draw with Newcastle – the three points was the most important thing to City.
“Burnley away is always Burnley away, so we will just try to win,” City boss Guardiola said before the game. The team had come away with two narrow wins and a draw in their three visits to Turf Moor under the Catalan.
This one did not feel like such hard work.
They created plenty of chances against a side just trying to contain them – and thought they had led early on when Jesus flicked in from Angelino’s volley but was flagged offside.
The 22-year-old did not look like a player out of form – he had not scored in 10 games for club and country – when he curled home from the edge of the box from David Silva’s pass.
Kevin de Bruyne – who was involved in the build-up to that goal – was instrumental in midfield with a couple of shots on target, as well as his usual passing game.
City looked comfortable all the way through and the second goal came when De Bruyne passed to Bernardo, whose cross was volleyed into the top corner by Jesus.
The only Brazilians to score more Premier League goals than Jesus (32) are Liverpool players past and present Philippe Coutinho (41) and Roberto Firmino (52).
He went close to a hat-trick when he swept a shot wide of the far post from a tight angle.
His return to goalscoring form has come at an important time with the club’s record top scorer Sergio Aguero out for a few weeks with a thigh injury.
“Sergio is a legend of football. I have to score when I play because Sergio scores every time,” Jesus said after the game.
Guardiola told BBC Sport: “We need him. I am so glad for him because he is an incredible fighter. He needs to score goals. We spoke about him – ‘you have to score, my friend; you do a lot of things, but you have to score goals’ – and today he did it.
“That is what I want, for him to try to be aggressive in this position, to not have doubts. The important thing is how you approach – the mentality. There’s never doubt in the quality or the arrogance in the good sense. He is so important and he make two exceptional, brilliant goals.”
City had time for two more goals.
Club record signing Rodri blasted home on the bounce from outside the box after David Silva’s shot was blocked. And Bernardo set up Mahrez, who took on several Burnley defenders before guiding home his 50th Premier League strike.
The late Brady goal will be a frustration as it means City have not kept a clean sheet in eight games, since a 3-0 win over Aston Villa on 26 October.
