Sergio Aguero came off the bench to score the sixth goal in his last three Premier League games and earn Manchester City a 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Tuesday.
The Argentina striker tapped in at the far post in the 73rd minute following another perfectly weighted cross from Kevin De Bruyne, giving the Belgian his 15th assist of the campaign.
Aguero had come on six minutes earlier as a substitute for Gabriel Jesus, who had a first-half penalty saved by Dean Henderson.
As important as the victory for City was the return of France center back Aymeric Laporte after nearly five months out with a serious knee injury.
Laporte, City's best defender, was roughed up by Sheffield United’s players - the Frenchman was taken out by Mo Besic in a dangerous tackle and then elbowed to the ground attempting to defend a corner, both in the first half - but left the field in the 78th minute with City’s clean sheet intact. City manager Pep Guardiola gave him a pat on the back.
"We have missed him a lot," Guardiola said. "Imagine any of the best teams in the world lose their best central defender.
"It was good news to get 65, 70 minutes in the legs. As a first step, it is good and until the end of the season he can help us."
City have struggled defensively in Laporte's absence, with central midfielder Fernandinho having to drop back to marshall the backline.
Guardiola decided to protect Laporte by playing him in a five-man defence along with Fernandinho and Nicolas Otamendi.
"He has something we don't have in the squad because of his left foot," Guardiola said of Laporte. "Many actions in the build-up, we don't have it. Not because the others are not good but because of the left foot.
“For the way we want to play, it's so important. Apart from his mentality and character, he has all the attributes and when he's fit for me he's the best left-central defender in the world.”
Second-place City moved 13 points behind Liverpool, having played two games more than the runaway leaders.
Aguero is going through a midseason revival, having scored a hat trick against Aston Villa before netting two late goals in a draw with Crystal Palace last weekend.
He now has 16 goals in the league this season, putting him one behind top scorer Jamie Vardy of Leicester.
“Sergio is on fire right now,” Guardiola said.
