Table of Contents
History
Manchester City maintained it’s 100% record in 2021 and set a couple more records in a 3-1 over Everton on Wednesday.
A second-half strike from Riyad Mahrez helped City see off a pesky Everton side who gave the Sky Blues all they could handle in the first half.
Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva also tallied for City while Richarlison got the Toffees equaliser.
With the win, City set a top-flight English record for longest consecutive win streak with 10. Pep Guardiola’s men have now won 17 successive matches in all competitions and are unbeaten in their last 24.
Game Story
Unlike in previous matches, City began attacking immediately with a more direct approach than we’re used to seeing.
Two minutes in and Joao Cancelo forced Jordan Pickford into a good save after taking the ball in a central area outside the box, cutting onto his right foot before firing it towards the near post.
City came close to earning a penalty on 14 minutes, but Michael Keane did well to recover and deny Bernardo Silva on the right side of the Toffees penalty area.
Gabriel Jesus narrowly missed in the 17th minute after great work from Rodri, but the Brazilian’s effort went over the bar.
Man City took the lead on 32 minutes.
The Toffees failed to clear the Citizens corner as a City cross ricocheted around before falling to Phil Foden. The English midfielder’s right-footed shot deflected off Seamus Coleman and past Pickford.
Unlike City’s past opponents, the Toffees reacted quickly and levelled the match five minutes later.
Alex Iwobi did well to fine Coleman whose cross found an unmarked Lucas Digne. The Frenchman’s first-time shot smashed against the post before deflecting off Richarlison for the equaliser.
Some smart goalkeeping from England’s number one Jordan Pickford kept the match level until half time and for the first 15 minutes of the second half as well.
A moment of magic from Riyad Mahrez helped turn the tide in City’s favour.
Bernardo Silva got the ball on the edge of Everton’s penalty area holding up play before teeing it up for the onrushing Mahrez. The Algerian curled a first-time strike into the top corner giving Pickford no chance.
After setting up the second goal Bernardo Silva put the game to bed 13 minutes from the end.
Some great link-up play created a lot of space for Gabriel Jesus who laid the ball off to Silva.
His lovely dummy got the better of Keane before he fired a fierce drive into the bottom left corner for goal number three.
Man of the Match
With Ilkay Gundogan absent, City winger Bernardo Silva became a focal point in the midfield and tonight he did not disappoint.
An assist on the winning goal and scoring an insurance marker helped crush a spirited Everton side which hung in there nicely for the first hour.
When one man goes down, another seems to step it up and tonight that man was Bernardo Silva.
The Portuguese is in top form and was skilful, and inventive with a bundle of energy for the Sky Blues.
Four Score
Riyad Mahrez is seemingly always in the mood for goals at Goodison Park.
The Algerian now has four goals against Everton in his Premier League career with all of them coming on the Toffees home field.
Terrible Twos
City defeated Everton for a sixth consecutive time in the Premier League.
Over those games, the damage for the Sky Blues has come in two’s.
The Citizens have two or more goals in six straight encounters versus the Toffees. Riyad Mahrez now has two goals as a Man City player against Everton.
For the fourth time in those six matches, City got the game-winning goal in half number two.
Two more games could see City equal yet another Premier League record.
Only Arsenal has a longer run of Premier League matches without trailing with 19 between December 1998 and May 1999.
City’s now gone 17 consecutive games without falling behind.
Back in the mix
Losing a player like Ilkay Gundogan is not what fans wanted to see given his form of late.
There was however a welcome sight for City fans in this contest as Kevin De Bruyne played 10 minutes, coming on late for Raheem Sterling.
While not seeing much of the ball, the good news is the Belgian’s ahead of schedule in terms of fitness and didn’t show any ill effects of the hamstring injury that’s kept him out for a few weeks.
Captain Fernandinho also saw some action replacing Rodri in injury time.
Three’s Company
Ederson’s isn’t used to collecting the ball from his net in a Premier League match.
He did it tonight for only the third time this year.
Richarlison is the third player to get one past the Brazilian in 2021. The Everton man now has three goals in his last three games in all competitions.
What it means
City’s lead atop the Premier League table is now ten points as they’re now even in games played with joint-second place teams Manchester United and Leicester City.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team meanwhile fall five points back of Chelsea in the Premier League’s top four.
Managers Words
Following the match City manager, Pep Guardiola explained how his team’s been approaching their Premier League matches lately.
“When you win a lot of games, everyone wants to beat you, and it is tricky. I have not seen that the team is thinking of the table; we have spoken about that. We are not here to defend our lead; it is all about three points, three points.”
Next Up
City goes for an 18th straight win Sunday when they face Arsenal.
Game time from the Emirates Stadium in London is 4:30 pm. (JSL).
