EVERTON 0, MAN CITY 2
Late goals from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic helped Manchester City snatch victory at Everton and reclaim a top four place.
It looked as though City’s last-ever visit to Goodison Park would end in a dour goalless draw O’Reilly broke the stalemate in the 84th minute.
The home grown 20-year-old continues to make a huge impact as this was his fifth goal since his opener against Salford City in the 8-0 FA Cup win in January.
And substitute Kovacic sealed victory in stoppage time as City won for the eighth successive visit to Everton.
It also extended City’s fabulous record against Everton – they are unbeaten in 17 games against the Toffees who now only have two further games at Goodison before moving to their new home at Bramley Moore Dock.
This was one of the least memorable matches between the two teams from either end of the East Lancs Road.
City were not pleasing to the eye, and it was workmanlike rather than their usual flair as they ground out a hard-earned victory.
Manager Pep Guardiola was not surprised to see left back O’Reilly pop up in the opposing six-yard box to score.
“Nico is an attacking midfielder, not a left back,” said Guardiola.
“When you play left back in this team you score goals as Josko [Gvardiol] does.”
Guardiola described it as a huge three points in their pursuit of Champions League football.
“Liverpool couldn’t win here nor did Arsenal, so it was a big win,” he said.
Everton manager David Moyes felt the loss of captain and centre back James Tarkowski early in the second half was a pivotal moment in the match.
“We played really well in the first half but couldn’t get a goal,” he said.
“When you look at the position we were in when I came in [in January], it shows how far we have come when I come in here disappointed to lose to Manchester City.”
Guardiola made four changes to the side that beat Crystal Palace last Saturday.
Stefan Ortega started in goal in place of Ederson after the Brazil international suffered a groin injury in that game.
Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva and Savinho all started with Rico Lewis, James McAtee and Kovacic dropping out.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity were boosted by the return from injuries from Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji who are both on the bench.
Moyes named the same starting line-up that picked up an impressive victory at Nottingham Forest last weekend.
It meant Armando Broja had another start up front with the Albanian yet to score this season.
Dwight McNeil, who has made a couple of substitute appearances following a knee injury, was on the bench.
City had a shout for a penalty rejected in the 14th minute after Savinho went to ground as he went to meet a Kevin De Bruyne cross at the far post. The Brazilian claimed he had been pulled back, but referee Simon Hooper was unmoved.
That was quickly followed by a drive from distance by Matheus Nunes which keeper Jordan Pickford pushed around the post diving full length low to his left.
Everton almost snatched the lead shortly after the half hour when James Tarkowski headed James Garner’s corner against the upright with Nunes clearing the loose ball to safety.
Everton appealed for a spot kick when Savinho looked to handle while on defensive duties.
City’s best chance of the half came in the 43rd minute when De Bruyne’s drive looked to be goalbound until Jake O’Brien headed clear.
Everton had a great chance soon after the restart when Tarkowski flicked on a free kick for Jarrad Branthwaite whose free header went straight to Ortega.
Ortega was called upon to make a smart save to turn Abdoulaye Doucoure’s shot around the post for a corner having jinked past Nunes to create an opening.
City carved open the home defence with Savinho’s shot well saved low down by Pickford after he had been set up by Omar Marmoush driving at the Everton defence.
Guardiola made his first changes with 12 minutes left as Gonzales and Savinho made way for Mateo Kovacic and Jeremy Doku.
Everton got into a tangle defensively as Marmoush looked set to capitalise, but a combination of Branthwaite and Pickford saved the day.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 84th minute when Nunes fired over a low cross from the right and O’Reilly found the net with a neat, near-post effort from six yards.
Guardiola made a third switch when De Bruyne made way for Akanji with two minutes left.
City struck again in the second of five added minutes with a well worked move involving Ruben Dias, Doku and Ilkay Gundogan who laid off a pass to Kovacic who found the bottom corner with a low drive from outside the box, his seventh goal of the season.
.