Manchester City 2, Everton 0
Erling Haaland hit a second half double as Manchester City reached the Premier League summit again with a 2-0 win over Everton.
Haaland scored his 50th Premier League goal on his 50th start in the competition – more than any other player in the competition – as he notched his 20th and 21st goals of the season.
It had earlier been shaping to be a frustrating afternoon for City – even without Sean Dyche on the touchline – he was serving a touchline ban – his team were organised and determined to frustrate the home side.
Everton defended deep and left little space for City to exploit in a disciplined first half, with City most likely to create something down their left flank with Jeremy Doku.
A tactical swap in the second half saw Foden come inside where he was promptly fouled by Idrissa Gana Gueye 30 yards out.
Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker were introduced for Manuel Akanji and Matheus Nunes after 57 minutes and the home crowd came alive.
Embed from Getty ImagesFinally, Everton could not keep City out any longer and Erling Haaland rifled home City’s first shot on target after 71 minutes after Nathan Ake won back the loose ball following a poor half clearance of Julian Alvarez’ corner.
Bernardo Silva replaced Julian Alvarez with 13 minutes to go as City looked to shore up the side with Everton looking for an equaliser.
And Everton substitute Beto had a golden chance to equalise despite looking offside, drilling the ball wide after running onto the through ball by fellow sub Amadou Onana.
With the Toffees having to look for an equaliser City hit them on the break with a late second goal after De Bruyne set up the big Norwegian for a second goal – Haaland brushed off the attentions of Jarrad Branthwaite before finishing past Pickford to make it 2-0.
It was the 12th time that De Bruyne had assisted Haaland in all competitions since the start of last season – the most of any Premier League player for a specific team mate in that time span.
Everton had an injury time goal by Beto ruled out for offside just as ten minutes of injury time were declared but they could not lay a glove on City and De Bruyne narrowly missed a chance to chip a third goal for City who won a tenth straight game in all competitions.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Everton 0
Ederson: 6. Tangled with Ben Godfrey after Everton tried to counter attack with loose ball. Needed extensive treatment afterwards.
Manuel Akanji: 6. Inverted into midfield instead of Stones, defensive sound as usual. Shot late in the first half blocked
John Stones: 7. Right back role on his return from injury. Good range of passing into midfield and happy to get physical too.
Ruben Dias: 7. Relished the battle with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the referee.
Nathan Ake: 7. Good defending from left back and set up Erling Haaland for his first goal.
Rodri: 7. Helped City keep control of midfield. Change of boots at start of second half as players were slipping.
Julian Alvarez: 6. Found heavy traffic in midfield, couldn’t quite get to prime shooting positions early on and occasionally wasteful on the ball which let Everton get a breather. Robbed James Tarkowski but his cross for Erling Haaland was too close to Jordan Pickford.
Matheus Nunes: 6. Difficult to make progress as Everton closed ranks quickly, wasted the ball in possession.
Phil Foden: 6. Ostensibly on the right flank but floated inside and dropped deeper to protect John Stones. Pep gave him some tactical guidance in second half stoppage and it seemed he swapped roles with Nunes. Wanted to get on the scoresheet again.
Jeremy Doku: 7. Gave Ben Godfrey a torrid time down the City left and tried to put trademark balls into the box. The chances kept coming and improved towards the end of the first half. Saw off Godfrey and then gave Seamus Coleman a tough time.
Erling Haaland: 8. Fed on scraps early on, headed a high Jeremy Doku cross over the bar. Rifled home powerful goal to put City ahead before using his physicality effectively to double the lead late on.
Kevin De Bruyne (on for Matheus Nunes, 57): 7. Changed the game after coming on. Set up Erling Haaland’s second goal and could have had one himself but his late chip landed on the roof of the net at the end of the game.
Kyle Walker (on for Manuel Akanji, 57): 6. Guarding against the counter attacks later.
Bernardo Silva (on for Julian Alvarez 77): No time to mark.
Jack Grealish (on for Jeremy Doku, 87): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Everton 0
Man City 1, Everton 0: 71. Erling Haaland rifled the ball home from 9 yards after Everton failed to clear Julian Alvarez’ corner and the loose ball fell to him.
Man City 2, Everton 0: 85. Erling Haaland ran onto a perfectly weighted through ball by Kevin De Bruyne on the break, shrugging off the attentions of Jarrad Branthwaite, before shooting past Jordan Pickford.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Everton 0
Man City: Ederson, Akanji (Walker 57), Stones, Dias (C), Ake, Rodri, Alvarez, Nunes (De Bruyne 57), Foden, Doku (Grealish 87), Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Bernardo Silva, Gvardiol, Bobb, Wright, Lewis
Goals: Haaland 71, 85
Everton: Pickford, Godfrey (Coleman 56), Tarkowski (C), Branthraite, Mykolenko, Gueye (Chermiti 89), Garner, Young (Onana 78), Harrison, McNeil (Dobbin 89), Calvert-Lewin (Beto 78)
Everton Subs not used: Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Hunt
Booking: Gueye 54 (foul on Phil Foden); Garner 90+7 (foul on Jack Grealish)
Referee: John Brooks