Manchester City's Jack Grealish, left, and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva react after the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
The Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) - Liverpool great Steven Gerrard couldn't do his old club a favor.
Now manager of Aston Villa, Gerrard saw his team lose 2-1 Wednesday at home to Manchester City, one of the sides challenging Liverpool for the Premier League title.
First-half goals by Portugal internationals Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva - the latter scoring with a sensational volley from Gabriel Jesus' cross at the end of a break - gave City a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Ollie Watkins reduced the deficit in the 47th with a first-time finish off a corner to the near post but City held on, helped by the second-half introduction of Jack Grealish - the boyhood Villa fan and former club captain who left for a British-record fee of 100 million pounds (then $139 million) in the offseason.
Second-place City stayed a point behind Chelsea and a point ahead of Liverpool after 14 games.
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Aston Villa players react to their loss at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
The Associated Press
Manchester City's Ruben Dias, right, celebrates with teammate Nathan Ake after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
The Associated Press
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
The Associated Press
Aston Villa's head coach Steven Gerrard during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
The Associated Press