Swansea vs. Manchester City: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Manchester City defeated Swansea City 4-2 at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday as they all but wrapped up second place in the Premier League table.
Yaya Toure (brace), James Milner and Wilfried Bony scored the goals to better Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis' efforts. Had Sergio Aguero and David Silva brought their shooting boots, and had it not been for Joe Hart's world-class display, it could have been 8-6.
"That was a brilliant result because we want to stay second in the league," Yaya Toure told the Premier League after the match. It will be particularly helpful to Manuel Pellegrini, who could keep his job as a result.
Here B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.
Winner: Yaya Toure, Who Reminded Us All of His Prowess
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It's been a tough season for Yaya Toure by his own sky-high standards; his 2014-15 campaign will likely be remembered more for the overzealous, sarcastic celebration of his birthday than for his performances on the pitch.
However, his bruising, powerful, two-goal performance at the Liberty Stadium reminded us all of his remarkable talents and that when he's in the mood and feeling fit, boy, can he take a team apart!
Questions will be asked of Lukasz Fabianski for both goals, but the Ivorian's overall part in this fantastic team showing sticks out for all the right reasons.
Loser: Jonjo Shelvey, Who Frustrates Fans and Neutrals Alike
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ESPN FC's Tom Doyle aptly summed up the frustrations surrounding Jonjo Shelvey in 2015: "Shelvey has two Swansea players completely open and spins a Hollywood pass straight back to City."
His propensity to opt for the exciting, more imaginative option can be maddening—especially when there's a simpler, better choice staring him right in the face. When he plays bigger teams, he sometimes drifts toward playing more for himself than the team, and it's an issue Garry Monk has alluded to in press conferences in which this writer has sat.
He and Bafetimbi Gomis did not look happy with each other in this game, with the latter suggesting, via gesticulations and facial expressions, that the former was being a little selfish with the ball.
Winner: James Milner, Whose Stock Is Rising...
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Wherever James Milner's future lies—be it with Manchester City, staying on a new deal, or with Liverpool, as was suggested by the Mirror—this performance just enhanced his bargaining position.
Football writer Christopher Atkins was similarly impressed: "Milner continuing his good run of form. [He's] been excellent of late and perhaps City's best player today. Will he stay or will he go though?"
He was an integral part of a City team that ran riot in midfield, combining with David Silva and producing stellar moments of interplay in and around Swansea's penalty area.
His goal was extremely well-taken, flummoxing his defender before curling a low shot around Lukasz Fabianski's hand, and his performance was, arguably, worthy of the Man of the Match award.
Loser: Eliaquim Mangala, Who Struggled Again
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Eliaquim Mangala, confirmed to have cost Manchester City a total of £42 million last summer, per the Guardian, had another suspect game. His first season has been absolutely appalling, made worse by the great weight of a seismic transfer fee hanging over his head.
The France international started well but dawdled latching onto a longer Swansea City clearance, allowing Nathan Dyer to steal in, cut inside—placing Mangala on his backside—and force a tremendous save from Joe Hart.
Things got worse as Bafetimbi Gomis stole in between the centre-backs twice for good chances—one of which he converted.
Mangala will be given the benefit of the doubt in some quarters because of the rich history of foreign players struggling in their first season in the Premier League before coming good.
But given how much he cost, that window for tolerance is closing far quicker than usual, and he'll need to buck up in many areas of the game if he is to succeed in the eyes of the fans.
Winner: Joe Hart: In Form and Impressive
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Joe Hart's form has taken a clear turn for the better in 2015, and what was once a position of potential worry for Manuel Pellegrini has turned into one of great strength.
The England No. 1's fantastic showing on Sunday only served to reaffirm this, with several brilliant saves denying Bafetimbi Gomis before and after a remarkably agile stop to palm Federico Fernandez's goal-bound header over the bar.
It was an amazing display of springiness and firm wrists.
