Premier League: Sergio Aguero limps off as Manchester City close gap on Chelsea

MANCHESTER City trimmed Chelsea’s advantage at the top of the EPL to three points by beating Everton 1-0, but at the cost of an injury to talisman Sergio Aguero.

Manchester City's Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero (L) lies injured during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 6, 2014. AFP PHOTO / LINDSEY PARNABY RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

MANCHESTER City trimmed Premier League leaders Chelsea’s advantage to three points by beating Everton 1-0, but at the cost of an injury to talisman Sergio Aguero.

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The 26-year-old Aguero will miss City’s pivotal Champions League clash at Roma on Thursday morning (EDT) after damaging knee ligaments. He could face an extended period on the sidelines.

Aguero, City’s top scorer with 19 goals, left the field in tears after hurting his left knee in a challenge with Muhamed Besic.

“Sergio has a problem with his knee ligament,” said Pellegrini.

“We’ll see tomorrow (Sunday) how serious it is, but it’s not good news. I don’t think that he will be able to play next week.

“We must wait for the doctor, but the important thing is he will not be playing against Roma and it’s a very important game for us. But we have other players and we will rearrange if he does not play.”

Edin Dzeko made his return from a calf injury as a second-half replacement for 18-year-old Jose Pozo, who came on for Aguero, but Pellegrini suggested the Bosnian was not fit enough to start in Rome.

“Edin was not able to play 70 or 80 minutes. He could play a maximum of 35 minutes,” the City manager said.

Adding to Pellegrini’s woes is the fact that City’s only other senior striker, Stevan Jovetic, missed the Everton game after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Injuries restricted Aguero to only 23 league appearances last season, but he had been injury-free and in scintillating form in the early months of the current campaign.

Yaya Toure got the only goal from the penalty spot.

The Argentina striker had scored 16 goals in his 14 previous City appearances, including a hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and all four goals in a 4-1 league win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea lost their unbeaten record after losing 2-1 at Newcastle United earlier in the day and defending champions City took advantage by beating Everton thanks to Yaya Toure’s first-half penalty.

Toure found the bottom-left corner from the spot after Phil Jagielka was adjudged to have impeded James Milner.

The visitors improved after Ross Barkley came on, but City goalkeeper Joe Hart produced a stunning one-handed save to thwart Romelu Lukaku and safeguard a fifth successive win in all competitions.

Originally published as Premier League: Sergio Aguero limps off as Manchester City close gap on Chelsea