Man City down Everton, Torres scores in Chelsea win

MANCHESTER: Substitutes Mario Balotelli and James Milner scored late goals to help Manchester City beat stubborn Everton 2-0 and keep the pressure on fierce rival Manchester United at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

Balotelli was introduced at the hour-mark and the Italy striker made a quick impact, latching onto Sergio Aguero’s layoff eight minutes later and finding the bottom corner via a deflection from Everton defender Phil Jagielka.

Milner wrapped up the win in the 89th, running onto David Silva’s pass and slipping a low finish past goalkeeper Tim Howard.

City’s victory — its fifth in six league matches this season — ended a run of four straight home defeats to Everton, which has been the hosts’ bogey team in recent years.

Chelsea stayed third after a dramatic 4-1 win over Swansea City at Stamford Bridge where their record 50 million pounds striker Fernando Torres scored and was sent-off within 10 minutes in the first-half. Ramires scored twice for Chelsea and Didier Drogba the other on his return from injury.

Newcastle United maintained their unbeaten start to the season and stayed fourth with Senegal international Demba Ba scoring a hat-trick in their 3-1 home win over Blackburn Rovers.

Liverpool are fifth after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 at Anfield where a Roger Johnson own goal and a second from Luis Suarez gave Liverpool the points.

Tottenham Hotspur continued their revival with their third straight League victory, winning 2-1 at Wigan Athletic to climb to sixth with first-half goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale.

Arsenal, struggling at the wrong end of the table after their worst start for 58 years, moved up five places to 12th with a 3-0 win over Bolton Wanderers with Robin van Persie scoring his 99th and 100th goals for Arsenal and Alex Song grabbing a late third to leave Bolton bottom.

In the other afternoon match, West Bromwich Albion drew 0-0 at home with Fulham.

Everton, which started the day in sixth place, was threatening an all too familiar shut-out at Eastlands before Balotelli’s goal.