Manchester City battled back with three second-half goals to beat Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park on Wednesday, and reclaim a🍏 spot in the Premier League’s top-four as a result.
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After winning the Club World Cup last week, the three-time defending Premier League champions (37 points) now sit five points🍏 back of leaders Liverpool with a game in hand to reach the halfway point of the 2024-24 season. Everton (16🍏 points), meanwhile, remain 17th, now just one point above Luton Town, who have a game in hand of their own.
It🍏 was absolutely all Manchester City for much of the first half, with Everton having just one shot — a Beto🍏 header which went wide of the 18-yard box altogether in the 1st minute — prior to the opening goal. Jordan🍏 Pickford made a double save to keep the game scoreless in the 14th minute as Matheus Nunes and Julian Alvarez🍏 had plenty of the goal to aim at, but each hit their shot right at the Everton ‘keeper.
Pickford made four🍏 saves in the opening half-hour, keeping the Toffees level until they could fashion their first real scoring chance of the🍏 game. It came in the 29th minute, as Rodri was dispossessed on the edge of his own penalty area, facing🍏 his own goal. Dwight McNeil dribbled toward the end line and crossed to the top of the six, where Jack🍏 Harrison arrived and applied the finish against his former club.
Everton led at halftime, but not for much longer after the🍏 restart. Phil Foden was left all by his lonesome 25 yards from goal, found by Bernardo Silva, not closed down🍏 quickly enough to block a beauty of a shot off his wand of a left foot. Pickford desperately dove low🍏 and to his left, but Foden found a keyhole in the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
Manchester City’s tails were🍏 up at that point, chasing a winner with renewed hope and energy. They had a corner kick in the 62nd🍏 minute, initially headed away before a follow-up from Foden was blocked as well. Nathan Ake turned to fire another effort🍏 on goal, but Amadou Onana got his body in the way, only it was his raised right hand which made🍏 the block. Julian Alvarez stepped to the spot and converted to take the lead.
As good as Pickford was to keep🍏 Everton in the game early, it was his mistake in the 86th minute which ended their hopes of rescuing a🍏 point. On the ball outside his penalty area, England’s no. 1 passed it straight to Bernardo Silva’s feet on the🍏 right wing. Silva lifted and curled a floated finish into the open net for a gigantic sigh of relief for🍏 a side that had found numerous ways to lose or draw games they should have otherwise won in recent weeks.
What’s🍏 next?
Both sides will be back in action in less than 72 hours, as Man City close out 2024 with a🍏 visit from Sheffield United on Saturday (10 am ET) and Everton travel to Molineux Stadium to take on Wolves at🍏 the same time.
Player ratings - Everton vs Manchester City
Everton vs Manchester City, final score: 1-3
Goalscorers: Jack Harrison (29'), Phil Foden🍏 (53'), Julian Alvarez (64'), Bernardo Silva (86')
29th minute - GOAL - Jack Harrison finishes after Rodri loses ball on edge🍏 of penalty area
Harrison's goal gives Everton lead v. Man City Dwight McNeil steals possession and finds Jack Harrison in front🍏 of goal for a simple tap-in finish to give the Toffees a 1-0 lead over Manchester City at Goodison Park.
53rd🍏 minute - GOAL - Phil Foden equalizes with a sweet strike from distance
Foden's rocket puts Man City level against Everton🍏 Phil Foden's venomous strike from distance beats Jordan Pickford and gets Manchester City back on level terms against Everton at🍏 Goodison Park.
64th minute - GOAL - Julian Alverez converts the penalty after Amadou Onana handball
Alvarez's penalty gives Man City lead🍏 over Everton Manchester City are awarded a penalty following a handball inside the box and Julian Alvarez converts from the🍏 spot to give his side a 2-1 advantage over the Toffees in the second half at Goodison Park.
86th minute -🍏 GOAL - Bernardo Silva secures the win after Jordan Pickford’s giveaway
Silva curls in Manchester City's third v. Everton Manchester City🍏 continues to show their class in the second half as Bernardo Silva curls in his shot from distance following a🍏 Jordan Pickford error to make it 3-1 at Goodison Park.
How to watch Everton vs Manchester City live, stream link and🍏 start time
Kick off: 3:15pm ET, Wednesday (December 27)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBC
Everton starting lineup
Pickford — Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite,🍏 Mykolenko — Onana, Gomes — Harrison, Garner, McNeil, Beto
Manchester City starting lineup
Ederson — Walker, Stones, Akanji, Ake — Rodri, Nunes🍏 — Silva, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez
Focus on Everton, team news
Everton were excellent in the second half of their defeat at Tottenham🍏 and Danjuma was particularly dangerous and could be pushing for a start. Everton pushed high to win the ball back🍏 against Spurs’ high-line and they will try something similar against City, knowing they will have to weather a storm at🍏 some stage but have talented players on the counter, and the backing of their tremendous fans at Goodison, to put🍏 pressure on City in the second half.
OUT: Dele Alli (groin), Abdoulaye Doucoure (hamstring), Ashley Young (knock), Seamus Coleman (undisclosed) |🍏 QUESTIONABLE: Idrissa Gana Gueye (knock)
Focus on Manchester City, team news
City have been rotating their lineup in all of the competitions🍏 they’ve been in and Guardiola is doing his best to get the defensive balance right. With four center backs rolled🍏 out there most weeks it is intriguing to see how City will fare with Everton’s counter-attacking speed and tricky wide🍏 players. Alvarez will again lead the line with Haaland still out.
OUT: Kevin de Bruyne (hamstring), Jeremy Doku (other), Erling Haaland🍏 (foot)
