Man City 2-0 Everton: Haaland double sinks Everton to send City top of Premier League

Erling Haaland scored his first objectives since November to assist Manchester City see off a decided Everton facet and transfer top of the Premier League.

His first objective was an excellent first-time end that gave his facet an important breakthrough within the second half, and he made certain of the three factors when he ran clear to slot previous Jordan Pickford late on.

Until then, Everton’s organisation and resilience had annoyed the defending champions, who had not managed a shot on the right track till Haaland struck with 19 minutes to go.

The guests failed to clear a nook and the ball fell for Haaland on the again put up to smash residence a fierce first-time strike that Jordan Pickford bought a hand to, however couldn’t maintain out.

Haaland was not carried out there, and made probably the most of the house Everton left pushing for an equaliser when he galloped on to Kevin de Bruyne’s through-ball, held off Jarrad Branthwaite and located the underside nook of the web.

City’s time in top spot could also be restricted – Liverpool can reclaim their place on the summit afterward Saturday once they host Burnley at Anfield – however their return to the top of the desk for the primary time since 24 November is a reward for his or her spectacular kind.

This was their tenth successive win in all competitions, together with the Fifa Club World Cup and FA Cup, and their sixth in a row within the Premier League.

Everton, in the meantime, stay caught within the relegation zone and have now gone seven league video games with out a win.

Haaland’s wait is over

Haaland’s opening objective was his first for 419 minutes within the Premier League and ended his longest scoreless run within the competitors, in addition to his longest streak of unsuccessful photographs – 17.

He had missed 5 league video games and 10 in all competitions on the flip of the 12 months whereas recovering from a stress fracture in his foot, however remained top of the scoring charts even earlier than ending his mini-drought.

In his absence, City faltered at first however, since Christmas, they’ve begun to discover their stride even with out Haaland’s objectives. If he’s again within the kind of kind that noticed him rating 36 league objectives final season, they are going to be even tougher to cease.

De Bruyne’s return from harm has additionally been an enormous increase and he was the catalyst right here after coming off the bench simply earlier than the hour mark.

The Belgian upped City’s passing tempo and elevated the strain on Everton’s tiring legs, punishing them on the finish with the exact go for his facet’s second objective.

Calvert-Lewin’s drought goes on

Everton boss Sean Dyche was watching from the stands as a result of of a touchline ban and should have been happy together with his facet’s efforts, regardless of the tip consequence.

His gameplan labored completely for greater than an hour however Everton’s resistance couldn’t final, and their trigger was not helped by their failure to take advantage of of the few probabilities they created.

It meant they left Manchester with none reward for a battling efficiency, one thing Dyche has seen quite a bit of from his facet this season.

Their excessive press compelled some defensive errors from City within the first half, however the Toffees have been let down by some wild ending in entrance of objective.

Jack Harrison sliced one shot excessive and large when a cross bounced into his path and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s weak chipped effort when he discovered himself in house was simply as unhealthy.

While Haaland’s drought is over, Calvert-Lewin has now gone 18 video games with out a objective and, till he finds his taking pictures boots, Everton’s most important attacking risk stays set-pieces – of which they’d only a few at Etihad Stadium.

Player of the match

De BruyneKevin De Bruyne

Everton

1. Squad quantity32Player identifyBranthwaite

2. Squad quantity6Player identifyTarkowski

3. Squad quantity19Player identifyMykolenko

4. Squad quantity22Player identifyGodfrey

5. Squad quantity37Player identifyGarner

6. Squad quantity23Player identifyColeman

7. Squad quantity27Player identifyGueye

8. Squad quantity1Player identifyPickford

9. Squad quantity11Player identifyHarrison

10. Squad quantity18Player identifyYoung

11. Squad quantity7Player identifyMcNeil

12. Squad quantity8Player identifyOnana

13. Squad quantity14Player identifyBeto

14. Squad quantity9Player identifyCalvert-Lewin

15. Squad quantity61Player identifyDobbin

16. Squad quantity28Player identifyYoussef Chermiti