Man City news: Pablo Zabaleta scores first club goal in over two years as Pep Guardiola's men ease to victory

Daily Mail | December 14, 2016

Pablo Zabaleta scored his first Manchester City goal in two years as Pep Guardiola's side eased past Watford.

Zabaleta notched his first goal since a Champions League game against Roma in December 2014 when he reacted quickest to meet Kevin De Bruyne's cross and send the ball past Heurelho Gomes.

David Silva added a second late on when he was played in by England international Raheem Sterling.

More to follow

Pablo Zabaleta reacted quickest to Kevin De Bruyne's cross to lash past Heurelho Gomes to take the lead for Manchester City

It was Zabaleta's first goal for City since December 2014 when he scored in a Champions League game against Romau00a0 — It was Zabaleta's first goal for City since December 2014 when he scored in a Champions League game against Roma

David Silva added a second goal late on when he was played through by England international Raheem Sterling

PLAYER RATINGS BY CHRIS WHEELER, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE ANALYSIS

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea	16	13	1	2	23	40
2	Liverpool	16	10	4	2	20	34
3	Arsenal	16	10	4	2	20	34
4	Manchester City	16	10	3	3	15	33
5	Tottenham Hotspur	16	8	6	2	16	30
6	Manchester United	16	7	6	3	5	27
7	West Bromwich Albion	16	6	5	5	4	23
8	Everton	16	6	5	5	1	23
9	Southampton	16	5	6	5	-1	21
10	Bournemouth	16	6	3	7	-3	21
11	Watford	16	6	3	7	-7	21
12	Stoke City	16	5	5	6	-5	20
13	Burnley	16	5	2	9	-11	17
14	Leicester City	16	4	4	8	-6	16
15	West Ham United	16	4	4	8	-13	16
16	Crystal Palace	16	4	3	9	-3	15
17	Middlesbrough	16	3	6	7	-6	15
18	Swansea City	16	3	3	10	-14	12
19	Hull City	16	3	3	10	-21	12
20	Sunderland	16	3	2	11	-14	11

Zabaleta (5) finishes off a brilliant City move to take the lead against Watford - click here to see more of our brilliant Match Zone

Nordin Amrabat (left) and Gael Clichy tussle for possession in the opening minutes of Wednesday night's clash

Watford's Heurelho Gomes was brought into action early on through pressure from Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne

Daryl Janmaat had to scramble back towards his own as Nicolas Otamendi followed in his attacking team-mate

Ilkay Gundogan manages to hold off Adiene Guedioura as City look to break forward during the first halfu00a0 — Ilkay Gundogan manages to hold off Adiene Guedioura as City look to break forward during the first half

Sebastian Prodl offers a helping hand to City playmaker David Silva after the Spain international went down

Guedioura manages to get to the ball ahead of England international Raheem Sterlingas the two challenged for the ball

Odion Igahlo finds a way past Yaya Toure as the striker aims to make a run into the City penalty area

Watford manager Walter Mazzarri sends out instructions to his players in the first half as Pep Guardiola watches on

City's Zabaleta reacts the quickest to meet a cross from De Bruyne before drilling a right-footed shot past Gomes

Zabaleta celebrates after scoring his first goal for City since December 2014 when he scored against Roma

He punches the air as he goes over to the jubilant City supporters inside the Etihad Stadium

Zabaleta had looked out of favour earlier in the season and the way he celebrated against Watford showed what it meant

The goal typified City's effort and determination during the first half as they tried desperately to score

The City captain pointed to his name on the back of his shirt as the supporters behind him celebratedu00a0 — The City captain pointed to his name on the back of his shirt as the supporters behind him celebrated

Despite Zabaleta's goal, City boss Guardiola was keen to make sure that his players' heads wouldn't drop

Silva uses his skill to keep the ball under close control before attempting to spark yet another City attack

Sterling uses his skill to control the ball before taking it past Guedioura who tries his best to pressure him off the ball

Ighalo takes down Sterling after he produced yet another piece of brilliance with City pushing for a second

Assistant referee Mark Clattenburg watches over Mazzarri as the Watford boss lets out his frustration

Nordin Amrabat tries to get away from City's Fernando as Watford try frantically to create chances to score