Match Report & Player Ratings: Manchester City 2-0 Everton (Premier League) | OneFootball

A second-half brace from Erling Haaland ensured Manchester City take all three points against Everton in a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

City’s attempts to slice open the Toffees backline in the opening 45 minutes were met with a resolute response from David Moyes’ men, who thwarted Pep Guardiola’s side and posed a huge threat on the counter – led by Iliman Ndiaye.

Ndiaye, who has scored at the Etihad Stadium in the past, was the best player on the pitch in the first half and should have gotten an assist to his name when he drove across the right side of the Manchester City box and played a delicious squared ball across to Beto, who failed to tap the ball into an empty net.

City had their own chances to break the deadlock in the first half, with Jeremy Doku coming close as Erling Haaland was frustrated by a lack of service. It remained goalless at the interval as Manchester City sought inspiration in the final third after a lacklustre first-half.

It didn’t take long for the hosts to break the deadlock after the restart as Nico O’Reilly – who has been in fine form for his boyhood club – found himself in space and played a well-weighted cross into the box for Haaland to head home his 13th goal in all competitions for Manchester City this season.

Haaland is threatening to break every record there is to break in the Premier League this season and the Norwegian took a step towards the same with his second of the afternoon not long after, as he fired a low shot past Jordan Pickford after being found by Savinho.

The 25-year-old was evidently gutted with himself when he failed to bag the treble in added time, with his effort blocked by a collective effort from the visiting backline and Rayan Cherki failing to convert from the resulting chance. Haaland had another one-on-one chance but Pickford saved his team effort, with the City man livid with himself.

City held on to their two-goal advantage and despite his and City’s wider frustrations in the first-half, Haaland proved to be the difference once again for Guardiola and co as they look to mount a genuine title challenge after going top of the Premier League table – albeit briefly.

Here are the player ratings from Manchester City’s 2-0 win against Everton on Saturday afternoon!

Starting XI

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 7/10

Produced a string of vital saves when called upon and was comfortable when asked to play from the back. Loving life in Manchester.

Matheus Nunes – 8/10

One of Nunes’ best displays in Manchester City colours and for a player criticised for being error-prone last term, he has cleaned his act and is earning Guardiola’s trust with every passing appearance.

Ruben Dias – 7/10

Won his duels and commanded the backline, solid as ever.

Nathan Ake – 6/5/10

Looked rusty in the first half on his first Premier League start since February but nothing that wasn’t expected from a player who has spent as much time with injury as Ake.

Nico O’Reilly – 8/10

Rayan Ait-Nouri has a very difficult job on his hands to displace Nico O’Reilly from the starting XI – is the best way to put how indispensable O’Reilly has become for Guardiola. Rolls-royce.

Nico Gonzalez – 8/10

One of City’s best players this season and keeps proving himself as a reliable stand-in for Rodri with every game he plays. Colossal in midfield and hardly put a foot wrong.

Tijjani Reijnders – 7/10

He’s yet to find his Wolves self and his finishing needs improvement because he is getting in the right positions but his decision-making has let him down since his fast start to life at the Etihad Stadium.

Savinho – 7.5/10

Slowly getting back to playing regularly, having spent the first few weeks of the season out injured. Terrorised Mykolenko and was a real avenue for City to attack, got his rewards by setting up Haaland for the second.

Phil Foden – 7.5/10

Didn’t register a goal contribution but was at the heart of the best of City’s attacking play and had the courage to drop deep and demand the ball in tight areas when the Blues were struggling to break Everton down.

Jeremy Doku – 7/10

Doku is as confident as he has ever been in a Manchester City shirt and he left no stone unturned in trying to make something happen from his side this afternoon.

Erling Haaland – 9/10

No words needed. Stupidly good.

Substitutes

Oscar Bobb – 6.5/10

Helped keep the ball late on and did well to combine with the likes of Bernardo Silva and Foden in the closing minutes.

Bernardo Silva – 7/10

Ran his socks off and won the ball back for City in key areas. El Capitan.

Mateo Kovacic – N/A

Rayan Cherki – N/A

Rico Lewis – N/A