Grealish scores first Premier League goal in 16 months, dedicates it to late brother

KATHMANDU: Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish marked a special moment in his career by scoring his first Premier League goal in 16 months, dedicating it to his late brother Kylan.

The poignant tribute came on the 25th anniversary of Kylan’s tragic passing.

Grealish, who had been given a rare starting spot in the Premier League after months of limited opportunities, found the back of the net in the second minute of City’s 2-0 victory over Leicester City.

The win propelled City to fourth place in the league. The second goal of the match came from Umar Marmoush in the 29th minute.

After the match, a visibly emotional Grealish shared that the day had been particularly difficult for his family. Kylan passed away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at just nine months old, when Jack was only four years old.

“My little brother passed away 25 years ago today,” Grealish said. “This day is always hard for our family. My mum and dad were here to watch the game, so to score and get the win was amazing for us.”

With star striker Erling Haaland sidelined due to injury, manager Pep Guardiola gave Grealish the starting opportunity, and the 28-year-old made the most of it with his early goal. City now sits on 51 points from 30 matches, solidifying their push for the top spots.

City’s next challenge will be the Manchester Derby, where they will face Manchester United at Old Trafford this Sunday.

In other Premier League action, Liverpool strengthened their grip on the top spot with a 1-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside Derby.

Diogo Jota scored the only goal of the match in the 56th minute. With 73 points from 30 games, Liverpool are 13 points clear of second-place Arsenal and are closing in on their 20th league title.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa defeated Brighton 3-0, Newcastle beat Brentford 2-1, and Ipswich Town triumphed 2-1 over Bournemouth. Southampton and Crystal Palace played out a 1-1 draw.

With only eight games remaining in the season, Liverpool’s title hopes are stronger than ever as they inch closer to securing the Premier League crown.