Erling Haaland’s second-half double propelled Manchester City to a 2-0 victory over Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In the first half, Manchester City struggled to penetrate the well-organized Everton defense, which posed a significant threat on the counterattack, spearheaded by Iliman Ndiaye.
Ndiaye, who has previously found the net at the Etihad, was the standout player of the first half and could have claimed an assist when he delivered a perfectly timed ball to Beto, who squandered a golden opportunity to tap it into an empty net.
City also created chances, with Jeremy Doku coming close to scoring while Erling Haaland experienced frustration due to a lack of service. The first half ended goalless, with City desperately seeking creative spark as they headed into the break.
After halftime, the hosts quickly found the breakthrough when Nico O’Reilly, in impressive form, delivered a precise cross for Haaland to head in his 13th goal in all competitions this season.
Haaland is on track to shatter Premier League records, and he took another step towards that with his second goal, a low shot past Jordan Pickford after receiving a pass from Savinho.
Despite his efforts, Haaland was disappointed not to secure a hat-trick in stoppage time, as his shot was blocked by Everton’s defense, followed by Rayan Cherki’s missed chance from the rebound. Haaland had one more clear opportunity, but Pickford denied him again, leaving the City striker frustrated.
Manchester City maintained their two-goal cushion, and despite Haaland’s earlier frustrations, he once again proved vital for Guardiola and his squad as they aim to mount a genuine title challenge, temporarily occupying the top spot in the Premier League.
Here’s a look at the player ratings from Manchester City’s 2-0 triumph over Everton.
Starting XI
Gianluigi Donnarumma – 7/10
Made several crucial saves when needed and demonstrated composure while playing out from the back. He’s enjoying his time in Manchester.
Matheus Nunes – 8/10
Displayed one of his finest performances for Manchester City, overcoming previous criticisms of erratic play and steadily earning Guardiola’s trust with each appearance.
Ruben Dias – 7/10
Commanded the defense effectively, winning duels and providing his usual solid presence at the back.
Nathan Ake – 6.5/10
Looked a bit off in his first Premier League start since February, but his struggles were understandable given his injury troubles.
Nico O’Reilly – 8/10
O’Reilly has become crucial to Guardiola’s plans, showcasing his importance in the squad as he continues to excel on the pitch.
Nico Gonzalez – 8/10
Has emerged as one of City’s standout performers this season, proving his reliability as a substitute for Rodri and dominating in midfield.
Tijjani Reijnders – 7/10
Still finding his feet at City, needing to sharpen his finishing despite being in the right positions. Decision-making has improved since his fast start.
Savinho – 7.5/10
Gradually returning to form after injury, he was effective against Mykolenko and played a key role in attacking moves, assisting Haaland’s second goal.
Phil Foden – 7.5/10
Although he didn’t register a goal, Foden was instrumental in City’s attacking sequences, showing the initiative to drop deep to collect the ball and create opportunities.
Jeremy Doku – 7/10
Doku exhibited confidence and made several attempts to spark offensive plays from his wing position.
Erling Haaland – 9/10
Simply extraordinary. A standout performance.
Substitutes
Oscar Bobb – 6.5/10
Contributed to maintaining possession late in the game and combined well with Bernardo Silva and Foden in the dying minutes.
Bernardo Silva – 7/10
Gave his all, winning the ball back for City in key moments. A true captain.
Mateo Kovacic – N/A
Rayan Cherki – N/A
Rico Lewis – N/A