MANCHESTER CITY RE-ENTER TOP 4 WITH CRUCIAL WIN IN PL

Thursday 28 December 2023

Premier League 2023/24

Matchday 19, Game 8/10

Goodison Park, Goodison Road, Liverpool, L4 4EL

MANCHESTER CITY RE-ENTER TOP 4 WITH CRUICAL WIN

Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Julian Álvarez scored as City saw off Everton at Goodison Park.

PREVIEW:

A Lancashire derby up north with the visitors Manchester City, dominant whenever they come to this ground. They have won all their previous 6 away games at Everton, with the hosts desperate to win their first game against Manchester City since they annihilated them 4-0 in 2017, which was a memorable day under former manager Ronald Koeman. Pep Guardiola has won almost all the games against current manager Sean Dyche by an aggregate score of 12-1. Manchester City will feel that a welcome win in the league will keep them up with Liverpool as they were 8 points behind the Reds whilst they were in Jeddah for the FIFA Club World Cup. Thanks to goals from Julian Álvarez (x2), an own goal and Phil Foden, City are now “WORLD CHAMPIONS”. Everton will look to bounce back after their 4-game winning streak was put to a halt following their loss at Tottenham on Saturday. Can either side return to winning ways in the league? Will Manchester City cut the gap to 5 points behind Liverpool after the Reds saw off Burnley 2-0 on Boxing Day Tuesday, or will Everton increase the points gap at the bottom to 4 points?

TEAM NEWS:

Dyche makes two changes from the loss at Spurs on Saturday, with Beto and André Gomes starting in place of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Idrissa Gana Gueye, with the Senegal international out injured and the England forward dropping to the bench.

There is no Erling Haaland as the 23-year-old Norwegian misses a 5^th straight game for City, as he, Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku continue their recoveries from injury, with two changes from their 4-0 success in the Club World Cup final, with Manuel Akanji and Matheus Nunes starting in place of Rico Lewis and Ruben Días, with the 26-year-old Portuguese international missing out this game due to illness. Although Rodri is fit to start despite limping off in the FIFA Club WC final last Friday.

KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF

Everton kick-off at Goodison Park and the match commences. The opening exchanges saw chances come at both ends of the pitch with Ederson being the busier of the two goalkeepers as he had to make a couple of crucial saves to keep the score goalless. At the other end, a massive chance came for the visitors. A double chance saw Julian Álvarez and Matheus Nunes target the goal, but the shots took a touch on the way through, which meant that City have had 3 corners throughout the first half. And eventually the hosts broke through on 29 minutes, after City were sucked into the pressure by the Toffees, Dwight McNeil robbed the ball of Rodri and he cuts back for former City winger Jack Harrison, to open the scoring. It was a goal that meant so much to him as he did not celebrate against his former club, the club where he was brought, but didn't get a chance to play under Pep Guardiola, and showed him why he should've played at Manchester City. Regardless of that, it is Everton 1 - Manchester City 0. And a well deserved opener for the home side. 

Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison celebrated Everton's first goal of the night.

It was not what the visitors wanted, but much needed for Everton as they look to increase the gap between themselves and the drop zone to 4 points.

Manchester City's "FIFA World Champions"badge on their second choice kit in tonight's game.

And a big blow for Manchester City 12 minutes later. It was John Stones who went down after he and Ederson prevented Beto from scoring the hosts' second goal. And with the injury not good at all, he was unfortunately subbed off, with Joško Gvardiol on for the visitors to close off the first half. But with Everton applying the press very well, City couldn't find a way through and hence, the first half ends. HT at Goodison Park, with the hosts for the moment, 4 clear of the drop zone.

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF

The second half begins in Merseyside, with world champions Manchester City, behind, looking to find a response to Jack Harrison's 29th minute opener. This time it was much better from the champions as they continued to ask the questions about Everton's backline and eventually won a corner. And from that, Manchester City equalised the game on 53 minutes. After a short corner between, Álvarez and Bernardo Silva, with a bit of short passing, he found Phil Foden and he unleashed a powerful 25-yard strike to catch Pickford and level the score. A much deserved goal for Manchester City, which was rewarded thanks to their hard work. Goals in back-to-back games for Foden, who is having a very good 2023 with his team. Goals, assists and trophies for the academy graduate. After 8 minutes into the second half, it is Everton 1, Manchester City 1.

Phil Foden scored his team's first goal to level the contest on 53 minutes.

With a couple of yellow cards going out to Manuel Akanji and André Gomes for their respective fouls on Amadou Onana and Jack Grealish, City eventually had a free kick on 61 minutes. And from that, 

Julian Álvarez's free kick, saved superbly by Jordan Pickford for a corner. A huge moment for Manchester City arrived on 63 minutes. In the Everton penalty area, following Pickford's save, Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana appeared to have handled in the penalty as he blocked Nathan Aké's shot and hence John Brooks, pointed to the spot after all the appeals from the Cityzens. A huge moment in this fixture, and VAR also agrees with the onfield decision, it was clearly touching the hand following Nathan Aké's shot, which clearly denied him a goal.

Gvardiol, Nunes and Aké were in joy after John Brooks awarded a penalty to City following a handball

Amidst all of this drama, it is also a yellow card for Jordan Pickford for delaying the spot-kick for City. This was Man City's 7th penalty overall, with Erling Haaland having 5 (missed 1), Kalvin Phillips having 1 and now the responsibility lies on the shoulders of Julian Álvarez. Up he comes, and calmly converts! There was never in any doubt that the 23-year-old Argentine was going to miss from the spot, wonderfully taken, Pickford dives to the left as Álvarez converts it down the middle to make it Everton 1, Manchester City 2 with 27 minutes and added time to come. 

Julian Álvarez converted from the spot to give Manchester City the lead on 63 minutes.

After all the hard work in the first half, Everton are behind. Can they find a way back into the game?

Captain Tarkowski's foul on Álvarez was waved off, but after that, City won a free-kick shortly after Álvarez returned back onto the pitch.

On 87 minutes, the points were truly well-sealed thanks to Bernardo Silva's expert finish. After Pickford's clearance found the Argentine forward, the 29-year-old Portuguese winger was calm and composed and lifted the ball beyond the reach of Pickford and into the bottom left corner of the goal to once again, give City another win on the road for the defending champions. Everton 1, Manchester City 3. And surely now, this game is defenitely wrapped up.

Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish celebrate as City wrapped up the win thanks to the Portuguese's goal.

FT AT GOODISON PARK: EVERTON 1 - MANCHESTER CITY 3

It was a welcome win for Manchester City as they now record a third straight win in all competitions and their 2nd in 7 games in the league, following 4 draws and 1 loss. The good news was that City kept their place in the top 4 after Brighton and Hove Albion shared a 6-goal thriller at the Amex Stadium by beating Tottenham Hotspur by 4-2, thanks to goals from João Pedro (x2), Jack Hinshelwood and Pervis Estupiñán, despite goals from Allejo Veliz and Ben Davies proving a consolation for Tottenham Hotspur, as the Seagulls moved to 8th in the table. And there was even more good news for the defending champions: West Ham United condemned Arsenal to defeat at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to goals from Tomáš Souček on 13 minutes, after VAR gave the goal despite Jarrod Bowen doing all he can to keep the ball in play and former Arsenal CB, Konstantinos Mavropanos heading in James Ward-Prowse's corner beyond David Raya's reach and the Spaniard saving Saïd Benrahma's penalty after former Hammers midfielder Declan Rice fouled full-back Emerson Palmieri, but it doesn't matter, as West Ham beat Arsenal for the 2nd time this season and the Gunners have their 1st home loss after 7 months. Their previous loss was a 3-0 home defeat to Brighton on 14th May 2023.

POST-MATCH PHOTOS:

MOTM Phil Foden and star midfielder Rodri celebrate Man City's win with their travelling fans.