Five Things Learned: Everton 0-2 Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City earned a hard-fought three points to emerge 0-2 victors in a tough final away visit to Goodison Park and a vital game given tight circumstances in the race for Champions League football.

Chances were few and far between for both sides for the majority of the game, with both taking a relatively cautious approach as both Everton and Manchester City struggled to create anything of any real substance.

Everton came close a few times with a James Tarkowski header striking the woodwork from a corner, a Jarrad Branthwaite effort palmed away from point-blank range by Stefan Ortega Moreno, in a couple of huge let-offs for City.

The visitors similarly struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities, with the best chances falling to Kevin De Bruyne following a cross by Matheus Nunes. The Belgian’s strike was curling goal-bound, but an exceptional diving header off the line from Jake O’Brien kept the game level.

Omar Marmoush also had a great chance to open the scoring as he got the wrong side of Michael Keane and found himself in a position to unleash towards Jordan Pickford’s goal, but his effort lacked conviction and was straight at the home side’s number one.

As time went on, Manchester City’s pressure mounted, pushing Everton to defend deeper as a goal seemed closer. With the introduction of Jérémy Doku and Mateo Kovačić, the game opened up significantly, becoming increasingly end-to-end.

With time ticking, in the 84th minute Manchester City were finally able to get their breakthrough, with Matheus Nunes finding fellow full-back Nico O’Reilly with a cross as the latter finished expertly past Jordan Pickford from close range to give the visitors the lead.

Finally, Mateo Kovačić sealed victory in stoppage time as – very similarly to his goal last weekend – the ball was delicately played back into his path as he unleashed a strike into the bottom corner.

Here are Five Things We Learned from Manchester City’s huge victory at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification at the top of the Premier League table!

Nico O’Reilly – Sensational again!

Ever since the 20-year-old was introduced to the first-team line-up on a more regular basis in recent weeks, Nico O’Reilly has been nothing short of phenomenal at both ends of the pitch, and nothing changed at the weekend.

Despite only featuring six times so far this campaign in the Premier League, Nico O’Reilly truly looked like he had been playing for years as he exuded confidence and composure dealing with every challenge he was up against from the Everton right-hand side.

Not only was the Academy graduate top class defensively, but again the youngster showed incredible attacking instincts as he arrived in the box like a seasoned striker and poked home a cross with a poacher’s finish when Manchester City needed him most.

The decision to decline an approach for O’Reilly from Chelsea back in January seems a better and better decision by the day as he continues to excel in a left full-back position, and even at such a young age being one of the standout performers in this City squad.

The imperious Josko Gvardiol

In a must-win game in the race for the top-five at a ground and fixture where the defence is guaranteed to be given a tough test, the Croatian was outstanding on the left of centre-back, dealing with the likes of Armando Broja and Beto with ease.

Manchester City’s number 24 has shown exactly why his best position is central defence in recent weeks, as he has been allowed to deputise in his natural position as Nico O’Reilly holds down the left-back spot.

Josko Gvardiol read the game incredibly well, timing his challenges and interceptions to perfection, and being sensational overall defensively to deny Everton attackers any description of opportunity.

The former RB Leipzig man showed great composure throughout as his experience shone through, controlling the game well and using his outstanding pace and strength to close down any Everton threat.

Ruben Dias and Gvardiol as a partnership are one of the strongest aspects of a team that has struggled in recent months and certainly a positive sign for the future of this Manchester City side.

Bernardo Silva: A serious conversation

Although there is no denying the Portuguese has been an incredible servant during his eight-year tenure, and while it is clear he is an exceptional footballer, in recent weeks and months there has been a severe drop in form evident again on Saturday afternoon.

For large parts, Bernardo Silva was deployed as a right winger but struggled to influence the game with most of his play negative, offering sideways and backwards passes, rarely trying to create, and is perhaps a culprit in part as to why City lacked any sort of dynamism.

He did, however, have a hand in the goal to break the deadlock, but largely was lacklustre in an attacking sense, as he has been on many occasions so far this season – which has raised question marks over his future.

It is clear the man that only two years ago was one of City’s best players is world-class technically, but given the Portugal international is not getting any younger and struggling to influence, with a huge summer revamp on the horizon, it begs the question: Where does the future of Bernardo Silva lie?

Instant impact

With Manchester City lacking that x-factor in attack on Saturday, Jérémy Doku’s introduction from the bench brought the creativity they needed and opened the game up to such an extent that we believe it was one of the main reasons Pep Guardiola’s side emerged victorious.

Although his finishing ability may have been heavily criticised by many this season, it is undeniable that Doku is an invaluable asset to this Manchester City squad.

From his very first touch, he gave exactly what the champions needed and opened the game up, stretching the Everton defence and quickening City’s attacking play as he unrelentingly took on his man and terrorised the Everton back-four with electric pace and dribbling.

Whatever you think of his overall ability, the Belgian was a game changer for the Blues at the weekend, as he almost always is when introduced from the bench with his injection of raw pace adding something to the attacking arsenal.

A huge three points and a step closer to Europe

The victory was by no means pretty; no expansive football or easy-on-the-eye skill. It was very much a ‘smash and grab’ for the visitors, but the importance of that win for the season overall cannot be overstated.

Each game must be treated as a final by Pep Guardiola and his players for the remainder of the season if they wish to secure a top-five finish in the Premier League, and if that visit to Goodison Park was a final, Manchester City conducted themselves superbly well.

Although the overall performance wasn’t the best, it’s not about performance; it’s about results and getting points on the board at a crucial time, and Manchester City managed exactly this. They travelled to one of the toughest grounds in the country and won when it mattered.

That was a statement from Manchester City’s players showing just how determined they are to finish in the league’s top-five as the ever-tightening race at the top of the table for UEFA Champions League places continues.

Three points were more than necessary for the champions, and they got the job done and returned to Manchester with a crucial haul and a huge boost to their aspirations of Champions League football for next season.