Haaland's brace fires City into top spot

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Manchester City F.C.

·18 October 2025

Haaland's brace fires City into top spot

Erling Haaland’s brilliant second half brace powered City to a 2-0 Premier League Etihad win over Everton – and up into top spot in the league table for a few hours at least.

The Norwegian extended his remarkable run of form by opening the scoring on 58 minutes with a superb header to break Everton's dogged resistance and so find the target for the 11th consecutive game for club and country.

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And within five minutes, Haaland then struck again, firing home from Savinho's neat assist to make it 23 goals for the season overall and 14 for City, 11 having coming in the league.

Everton proved tough to break down and made life tough in a hard-fought first half but City were not to be denied.

It was just the latest demonstration both of Haaland's incredible predatory powers and City's capacity for overcoming the most obdurate of opponents.

And it was enough to send City top - at least until after Arsenal's match with Fulham later today.

The game in 250 words

It proved a frenetic, high-octane start.

Nico O’Reilly fizzed in an 11th minute 20-yard effort from the left edge of the Everton box that went just the wrong side of the far post before City then breathed a huge collective of relief on 14 minutes when Beto somehow failed to convert a golden chance from just six yards out after the dangerous Ilian Ndiaye drilled in an inviting pass across the face of goal.

The woodwork then came to Everton’s rescue midway through the first half, the crossbar preventing a header diverted by Jake O’Brien from crossing the line after Phil Foden had whipped in a pinpoint corner.

It was end-to-end stuff with Beto then ghosting onto another inviting Ndiaye ball only to shoot wide. The assistant referee’s flag went up for offside but replays suggested the striker was onside.

City were then indebted to Gianluigi Donnarumma who produced a crucial 41st minute save to deny to omnipresent Ndiaye before, at the other end, Pickford twice earned his spurs by first diving low to prevent Doku on 39 minutes and then following up with an equally fine clock to keep out Savinho’s 45th minute goal bound effort.

It needed a moment of brilliance to break the deadlock – and right on cue Haaland delivered the breakthrough on 59 minutes.

The architect was Nico O’Reilly who launched a brilliant raid down the left flank before drifting in a deft cross which was meat and drink for Haaland, the big man stooping to head home in fine style.

Within five minutes Erling was there again to double his tally and City’s lead, the striker applying a clinical first time finish to Savinho’s assist.

It was his 23rd goal of the season for club and country and 14th for City.

He had several chances to go and make it a hat-trick but for once had to be content with the brace as City swept to another crucial three points.

Teams

CITY XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias (C), Ake, O’Reilly (Lewis 84), Nico (Kovacic 84), Reijnders (Bernardo 60), Savinho (Cherki 84), Foden, Doku (Bobb 60), Haaland

Subs: Trafford, Stones, Marmoush, Gvardiol

EVERTON XI: Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski (C), Keane, Mykolenko, Gana (Iroegbunam 70), Garner, Alcaraz (Rohl 70), Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Beto (Barry 75).

Subs: Travers, King, McNeil, Dibling, Coleman, Aznou.

Attendance: 52,498

Star man

It has to be Erling Haaland.

Blessed with an unquenchable thirst for goals, Haaland is also the perfect team player and never afraid to put the hard yards in.

No matter how tight or well drilled the opposition is, with EH on board anything is possible.

It's a privilege to watch him play.

Unstoppable

Another game, yet more Erling Haaland goals.

Even by his own rarefied standards the City striker has been in quite extraordinary form so far this term.

Today’s brilliant brace meant Haaland has now scored 11 goals in Manchester City’s eight Premier League games this season.

It’s only the third instance of a player reaching 10+ goals in a side’s first eight games of a season in the competition, with the Norwegian himself already responsible for the first two (sixth game in 2022-23, fifth game in 2024-25).

Let’s savour him for what he is – a very, very special player!

Nico at the double

Amongst the encouraging displays were fine individual displays from both Nico O’Reilly and Nico Gonzalez.

Our young Academy graduate – fresh from his first senior England call up – was again handed a starting berth at left back and once more illustrated what an exciting talent he is with a display that was mature beyond his tender years.

Meanwhile selected to occupy the crucial holding midfield role in the absence of Rodri, Nico was composure personified, the Spaniard helping provide an effective bridgehead between City’s defence and attack.

Pep’s reaction

Typical game after international break. We were not there for the first 15-20 minutes. We lacked energy. We played good after the first goal. We had clear chances and we'll take it. A really positive thing for people coming from the bench and the energy is there but it's better to improve while winning games.

Everton are a good team. We knew that, they play long balls and our process in the first half was not perfect.

Scoring the goal helps for what is coming and that's when we play better.

FODEN reaction

We know Erling's got that quality to time his runs to perfection and be in the right position.

If they mark him out of the game he is still capable of scoring and we know he only needs one chance to score.

He remained very patient, there wasn't a lot of space for him today.

And as you can see he is always there for us at the right times, that is the sign of a world class striker.

In the second half we were much more meaningful with the ball going forward, breaking lines and yeah we created a lot. Overall we can be happy with the performance.