Two chances for Beto... two chances for Haaland; No contest | OneFootball

Manchester City 2 - 0 Everton

Everton take on Manchester City in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, just 2 points behind Pep Guardiola's side and minded to leapfrog over them with a precious win at The Etihad.

There's no Jack Grealish, of course, due to Premier League loan rules, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall returns to the starting line-up after serving a one-match ban for accumulating five yellow cards in six games.

Dibling is dropped back to the bench where Merlin Rohl (but not Jarrad Branthwaite) is deemed fit enough, with Charly Alcaraz getting the job of feeding the ball through to Beto. Nathan Patterson is out injured.

First Half

Everton kicked off in their all-black kit with the usual scenario: Pickford hoff, possession lost. Dewsbury-Hall had an early clash with Nunes, who fouled him with impunity to steal the ball; he needed treatment and off for the requisite 30 seconds.

Everton tried to move it around with some intensity but Gana was called for a high kick. But Everton regained possession and mounted a decent attack with a long throw from Mykolenko and some good play from Ndiaye but no chance created.

City came forward and won a corner, headed clear by Keane but Alcaraz unable to counter. But City were back in attack and a ball over the top to Savinho but he played his cross behind Doku.

City were increasingly finding space, with the Everton defence looking stretched. But Ndiaye stole the ball off Ake and played a glorious cross for Beto that he failed to connect properly with... an open goal missed.

Ndiaye stole the ball off O'Reilly but got tangled up and City got it back, Savinho again in behind but he failed to shoot and just rolled the ball to Pickford. Nunes then struck his shot wide.

It was competitive and Everton holding their own against the increasingly inventive City attack, the Blues defence working hard, Mykolenko giving up a corner. Foden's great ball seemed to find Haaland but it came off O'Brien and hit the face of the bar with a thump.

After a brief respite, where Alcaraz fired goalward, his shot blocked, City reestablished the pressure on Everton.  Another dangerous City attack almost broke through Keane in place to divert the shot behind from Reijnders. Gana was fouled as the corner came over.

At the other end, Dewsbury-Hall fed a brilliant ball through to Beto who drove it across goal and wide. He was flagged offside but another horrendous miss for the big man. Savinho tried to dribble through everyone, winning a corner that Pickford came out to punch away from the crowd.

Doku beat O'Brien easily but his cross was blocked away. Doku tried again but Tarkowski covered the through-ball. City tried again but were driven back to Donnarumma. It opened up a bit in midfield but Everton were too slow and they too went backward.

Garner was shown a yellow card for a foul on Foden 5 minutes earlier. Ndiaye stole the ball and drove forward. He got a second bite and this time stung Donnarumma's fingertips with a brilliant net-bound shot.

The resulting corner was eventually cleared and Garner tried to play a forward ball that was blocked. Suddenly it was wide open for City to score on overload, Haaland laying it off to Reijnders then Doku, but somehow he mishit his shot and Pickford blocked it before Mykolenko belted it away.

Another City corner, Ake heads it wide. Beto battled forward and tried to lay it off to Alcaraz but the City defenders were around them like tigers. Savinho beat Mykolenko brilliantly but his shot was pushed back by Pickford and out for another City corner that was cleared.

And that was it for a very busy first half, Everton playing fairly well considering the opposition but Beto could be the hero... and wasn't.

Second Half

A great steal by Ndiaye on Doku should have set Everton going forward but Ake was too strong again. But Garner stole the ball next, Everton giving City too much time to reset and then wasting a crossfield ball.

City were forced to play it around and aroun, Everton inpenetrable. Beto was pushed over by O'Reilly wide right,  Dewsbury-Hall to the far post but Donnarumma snatched it out of the stratosphere.

Garner was fouled in midfield but gave away the ball off the free-kick. However, Mykolenko won it back and Everton attacked, Doku fouling Dewsbury-Hall centrally. But nothing came of the free-kick.

But suddenly, O'Reilly broke left and the ball over the top was crossed perfectly for Haaland and Bang! What an incredible leap! No stopping that. And Pep immediately makes changes.

Dewsbury-Hall stole the ball and Beto was driven wide. Garner's shot was blocked by an arm but of course no penalty for Everton, the corner cleared by Donnarumma.

City attacked again and Savinho was allowed too much space, the ball rolled back to Haaland and Tarkowski's heel was enough to deflect the shot past Pickford. 2-0, game over.

Garner went in very strongly on Foden and was perhaps lucky not to see a second yellow card. Moyes decided to shake the can, while for City, it became a training game, Foden firing just over the corner angle. Gueye off for  Iroegbunam; Alcaraz off for Röhl.

City worked it around, trying to set up Haaland for his hat-trick. Bobb forced a corner but Everton defended it clear. Ndiaye danced down the wing, beat his man and crossed for Röhl, his good header hitting the side netting.

Haaland looked to be set for his third but O'Reilly's towering header took it away from him and injured himself as he fell.

O'Brien forced a corner, Tarkowski smirking as Haaland falls over his leg for a bit of afters.  There were a load of subs, and not much else until Haaland seemed through for a simple third goal but it didn't happen, great blocking by Everton.

Haaland almost got another chance but was forced out wide and could not make his cross-shot go in. He got yet another chance one-on-one with Pickford but could not finish.

Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Ake, O'Reilly (86' Lewis), Nico (86' Kovacic), Reijnders (59' Bernardo Silva), Savinho (86' Cherki), Foden, Doku (59' Bobb), Haaland

Reader Comments (64)

Kevin Naylor 2 Posted 18/10/2025 at 13:51:36

Back 2 goalies on the bench again FFS

Kevin Molloy 3 Posted 18/10/2025 at 13:54:39

Alcaraz on the wing, with Dibling on the bench?

That makes no sense.

Sean Kearns 4 Posted 18/10/2025 at 13:58:14

These are there for the taking!

This isn't City of the last 4-5 years and we go above them with a win…

Come on, blue boys!!! (Or whatever colour we wear today)… 0-2 Everton win. Beto and Ndiaye

Ste Stannard 5 Posted 18/10/2025 at 14:03:14

Great chance to play Charly at Number 10 wasted!

For fuck's sake, he's not a winger. And 2 goalkeepers on bench... 3-0 home win.

Steve S 7 Posted 18/10/2025 at 14:09:11

Best bet of day, Ted: 7-2 Jake gets booked.

Come on, Jake -- put him in your pocket!

Sean Kearns 9 Posted 18/10/2025 at 14:12:14

Nobody has said Charlie is a winger today! Why are people assuming…

I trust the fella who has managed the 3rd most games in Premier League history over a few ToffeeWebers. Just saying like...

David Bromwell 11 Posted 18/10/2025 at 14:21:28

For all his faults, Beto can be a handful for any defence, so hopeful that Charly is playing alongside him. Dewsbury-Hall to play the Grealish roll out wide.

However, it all looks a lot better than last season, with more than a couple of good options on the bench.

Steve S 12 Posted 18/10/2025 at 14:22:30

Okay, predictions then, fellas -- don't hide behind your keyboards giving it large.

Where's Charly playing and what's the score?

Dave Abrahams 13 Posted 18/10/2025 at 14:27:54

If Charly plays where he played against Palace, I'll have a lot more confidence of a win.

If he plays on the wing, it's a waste of a good player.

Raymond Fox 14 Posted 18/10/2025 at 14:28:41

It's a shot to nothing, nobody fancies us to win, at least those with clear glasses don't.

We will probably have 20% possession, when we have it put it into the box, anything can happen.

Not much of a plan I know, but we will not get anything playing them at their own game.

Si Cooper 16 Posted 18/10/2025 at 14:38:51

Who else do people want on the bench? Give us a name and a reason rather than just complaining about the 2 keepers.

Crazy things are happening almost daily so we all should live in hope that the result we crave coalesces out of the chaos.We got a result against Palace that not many expected so we can do it again.

The formula is simple. Shackle and frustrate them and make the most of our opportunities.

Have to hope the international players we have who have not had a break are buoyed by their continued relative success and really up for this challenge. Let's see how their defenders deal with the dancing Ndiaye.

Come on you (‘Royal') Blues!

Paul Kossoff 18 Posted 18/10/2025 at 14:52:59

A 2-1 win to the blue boys, the royal blue boys. Be positive like me.

A double negative forms a positive. In some languages, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, in no language in the world can a double positive form a negative.

What do you mean, “Yeah, right!"😁

Tom Bowers 19 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:01:34

Moyes going for a backs-to-the-wall job which always leaves you with zilch.

They don't start Bernardo Silva which is good and Rodri is injured but their replacements are top notch.

Anything can happen in any game but Everton need to be firm all over, especially in the first half when they always look shabby.

They will miss the outlet and ball carrier in Jack.

Ernie Baywood 21 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:20:26

Well 15 minutes in it's very clearly not a backs-to-the-wall job. It's very open.

Beto's left foot. Jeez. Two open goals in a week if he could use it.

Mike Gaynes 22 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:21:01

Dreaming, Sean. This is not a team that is one player away from Europe.

Christy Ring 23 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:28:21

Sean more nonsense, that's why City and now Arsenal want rid of Jesus, misses more than he scores.

Alex Whitehead 24 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:37:54

Beto is shite!!! 😩😩😩😩

Paul Armstrong 25 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:38:56

Any links that do not include subscribing?

Sean Kearns 26 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:40:01

People turning their noses up at Jesus probably turned it up at Moyes returning also 🙄 why do people have to come down on others for merely dreaming and being positive. Bunch of miserable glass half empty sods… Jesus scores that Beto sitter and we are currently 1-0 up. Nuff said

Christy Ring 27 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:48:10

Sean any striker would have scored that Beto sitter, and you mustn't have watched much of Jesus, he does most of his best work outside the box.

Sean Kearns 28 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:49:59

Any other suggestions?

Ernie Baywood 29 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:50:36

Plenty to talk about in that half. But just how good is Ndiaye?

I can't think when I've last seen one of our players go away to a top side and play as if they believe they're the best player on the pitch. He's incredible.

Kieran Kinsella 30 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:51:22

Ndyiae was excellent in the first half showing his work rate defending, strength and creativity. Him apart, solid.

Dewsbury-Hall playing well, Alcaraz struggling out of position. Decent 45 minutes for the neutrals even though it's 0-0.

Alan J Thompson 31 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:53:31

We started by going more down the middle before going more through Ndiaye who has given the City defence some problems. But after 10 minutes, our defence seemed to sit further back which gave City more room to move. Fortunately their two very good wingers haven't quite had their own way.

So far so good but what a pity that Beto didn't put that chance away on the 13-minute mark.

Christy Ring 32 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:58:08

Chris Wood on the bench for Forest, worth a punt in January if he's still struggling at Forest? A proper no.9

Dave Abrahams 33 Posted 18/10/2025 at 15:59:11

Kieran (30) DKH playing well? Struggle to see that he’s hardly been in the game, Alcaraz is not a winger.Subs might win this game, hope it’s an Everton one.

Kieran Kinsella 34 Posted 18/10/2025 at 16:04:57

Dave

He started brightly making some nice runs towards their box. Granted he was less involved as City upped the ante and we were camped in our own half. He might get that Ireland call up soon!

Kevin Molloy 35 Posted 18/10/2025 at 16:08:46

If Ndiaye keeps this up we'll be fending off £25m bids from United before you know it.Enjoy him while you can

Ernie Baywood 36 Posted 18/10/2025 at 16:23:31

I'd love to argue whether that should be a penalty but as a lifelong player, coach and supporter I've got no idea what the handball rule is nowadays.

Andrew McLawrence 37 Posted 18/10/2025 at 16:28:58

Imagine having a striker

Sean Kearns 38 Posted 18/10/2025 at 16:36:20

Ball going at goal and hits his outstretched hand… I feel this is one way the league is influenced. Against certain teams a pen is given for that, and against others it’s not… The Premier League makes a lot of money every time Haaland, Salah etc score goals. That includes penalties… lots of jersey sales, google searches, links clicked (advertising companies get paid) etc etc etc.

Colin Malone 39 Posted 18/10/2025 at 16:36:25

Should've gone with two up top.

Luke Welch 40 Posted 18/10/2025 at 16:41:31

The ambition was there I think. Can't complain too much.

Kieran Kinsella 41 Posted 18/10/2025 at 16:59:47

Luke

Yeah with what we have we put up a decent effort but they just have much more quality.

Alan J Thompson 42 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:01:57

We were still in the game when both our central defenders decided to run toward our goal while watching the City player out wide with the ball leaving their main striker, the only City player in our box, totally unmarked and then for good measure did it a second time.

Admittedly we need to find something more in our own attack which seemed lesser when Alcaraz went off but they didn't make a complete show of us.

George Cumiskey 43 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:02:00

Got to give it to Moyes he set the team up in the second half and with the subs to keep the score down, 2 nil not a bad result against City. 👍

Sean Mitchell 44 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:02:21

That’s a penalty all day had it been in our area.

Dave Abrahams 45 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:06:51

Kevin (35), £25M? and the rest he’s the best forward we’ve got.

Christy Ring 46 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:11:28

If we only had a prolific striker, on the plus side, we should have Grealish and Branthwaite back for next Sunday.

Alan J Thompson 47 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:18:01

When I think back to the penalty given against Tarkowski when it seemed to come off the point of his shoulder I do wonder why that wasn't given especially as intent, whether deliberate or not, doesn't seem to come into it.

Similarly, Garner was fouled in an almost identical manner for which he got a yellow card but nothing against the City player.

Jim Bennings 48 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:18:14

It may sound extreme to people but I'd personally try my utmost to sell both Beto and Barry in January and try to take in anything we can for them and replace them with two others.

Beto has had his purple patch now and he's never once looked the answer to what we need.

Barry doesn't look anywhere near the style of player for this league.

He's meek, lightweight and doesn't look like he has much running or work ethic in him, I can't see him working out at all.

Why persist with dross?

Sell both and replace them.

Eric Haworth 49 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:19:07

Michael’s headline about sums up this thread. Although what on earth were our CB’s doing for their goals. The most dangerous striker in the league stood on his own in our box on both occasions while neither of our CB’s were within 10yds of him & neither marking a sole? Mind you, anybody on here reckon Beto would’ve finished either of those chances? Oh to have a striker🙄

Jack Convery 50 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:19:28

A headline that sums it up perfectly.

Neil Lawson 51 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:21:32

Alcaraz earned his start from his performance last time out but Moyes shoe horned him in to a position where he has always struggled because that was the vacancy available. I find this frustrating. He tried hard but was less effective. Square pegs/ round holes etc.

Ajay Gopal 53 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:21:51

A slightly unfair headline - Beto had 2 chances and Haaland had 5, but overall I am encouraged by the performance. Especially all the subs gave a good account of themselves. Barry looks better as a substitute and I see a player there who will come good once he plays more as the season goes on. Merlin Rohl and Tim Iroegbunam played well together and got some good tackles in. We are 2 full backs and a good striker away from competing with the best of the rest.

Peter Moore 54 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:22:10

Dodgy headline that. Haaland had a plethora of chances!2 out of at least 5 good chances to my eye. Beto missed 1 that he did well to get anything on. It was gutting his desperate lunge didnt get enough on it though.The second one he beat Donarumma and the far post, not easy to slot past that keeper on the angle. Had he succeeded it was no goal as flagged for offside (though maybe we would have had a chance to overturn on VAR as it was super tight). Not our day.Thought we fought hard but their class shone through, sadly. Sad truth is it could have been an embarrassing scoreline had their lads had their shooting boots on. Not seen the XG tho.Lets hope with Jack and Jarrad back we do a number on Spurs. UTFT.

Kieran Kinsella 57 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:31:44

I’m not a Beto fan but that ball was aways away. It’s only cause he’s lanky he almost got a clean touch on it. I don’t think Barry contributed more than running down the clock to keep it at 2-0.

But in the recent past we would have capitulated and probably ended up conceding a few late goals. We didn’t. We kept our shape and discipline. But our shape minus Grealish was askew and with full backs offering nothing going forward plus a useless striker it was a matter of scoring off a set piece or Ndyiae doing a Maradona run. In the words of Moshiri “an expected loss,” and one I personally can’t argue that if we’d done this that or the next thing differently we could have won.

Conor McCourt 58 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:39:47

No complaints today only the Alcaraz position. Moyes set up the team well and we were only done for superior quality.

One of the most promising performances this season despite the result and the first 60 or so mins should give us confidence going forward.

This was a very different game to the 2-0 scoreline under Ancelotti.

Good effort all round.

Mike Gaynes 59 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:46:37

Eric #49, he didn't stand alone... he moved, superbly and faster than any other striker in the world.

Haaland has 23 goals in 13 games for club and country this season. Did anybody really expect Tarks and Keane to shut him down for 90 minutes?

Martin Farrington 60 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:48:46

When Everton cant spot Haaland when they had him TWICE.

Yet manage to spot Beto + Barry and the litany of other trash recruitment deemed worthy to wear the shirt, it shows,STILL SHOWS - Everton recruitment never has been and is still NOT FIT for purpose.

The huge amount wasted on crud for at least four decades is criminal.

Bereft of striking options for that long, and an incapability for any manager to play to the lone strikers strength (possibly Ancelotti excluded) we havent a hope in hell.

I do not trust those responsible for player recruitment to remedy their huge blunders.

With the vast amount of money agents receive from transfer fees and then the player as clients, one has to question corruption as a possible motive.

I am trying to think of another premier league regular that always puts vast amounts of millions into dreadful players, year in year out, and I cant think of any, other than us. I do not include yo yo teams or those who lasted a season or two.

Evertons academy is equally turgid.

Something has to change monumentally for this club to become a feature.

I thought we gave a good account of ourselves but the difference was quality.

Harland needs 5 clear cut chances to score 2, Beto will be lucky to get 5 chances over 3 games.

This city team let you play and allowed us a bit more time on the ball. We kept the ball quite well but lack that bit of quality.

On another day we get a pen to level the game and then who knows.

Thought Rohl looked decent when he came on.

Mal van Schaick 63 Posted 18/10/2025 at 18:05:00

We were outclassed by a better team and we have a lot to do bridge the gap to the top 4. It was a penalty, he was reckless throwing himself in front of the ball and had his arm out.

Christy Ring 64 Posted 18/10/2025 at 18:14:23

Merson summed it up perfectly, he said if Haaland was playing for Everton and Beto for City, we would have won.

Joe McMahon 65 Posted 18/10/2025 at 18:25:20

Martin@60, I don't think we are going to see another transfer window like Roberto's Barry Lukaku one while I'm still alive.

Robert Tressell 66 Posted 18/10/2025 at 18:47:31

Ajay # 53, it is as simple as that, a striker or quality and two two galloping full backs and we will be really good.

Hopefully a RB in January to start the process.

Pleased for Rohl.

Colin Glassar 67 Posted 18/10/2025 at 18:56:36

Spot on, Martin 60. We are paying the price for 40 years of abandonment, shortsightedness, mediocrity and downright incompetence.

It’s going to be a long road back.