Erling Haaland's quickfire double condemned Everton to a 2-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, breaking the Toffees' stubborn resistance after almost an hour of defiant defending. The Norwegian striker headed Manchester City in front on 59 minutes from Nico O'Reilly's cross before sealing victory with a clinical finish just four minutes later.
David Moyes' side had frustrated Pep Guardiola's men for the majority of the match, with Jordan Pickford making several crucial saves to deny Jeremy Doku and Savinho. Everton's defensive resilience kept City at bay despite the hosts' dominance in possession and territory.
Missed opportunities prove costly
Beto twice should have given Everton the lead in the first half when fed by the impressive Iliman Ndiaye. The striker failed to make a clean connection with Ndiaye's low cross before dragging a second effort wide, though that chance was ruled offside.
Ndiaye himself came closest to breaking the deadlock, dancing through City's defence before forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma to tip his dipping effort over the crossbar. The Senegal international was Everton's standout performer in the opening period.
Haaland's prolific season continues
The defeat highlighted the gulf in clinical finishing between the two sides. According to the Evening Standard, Haaland has now scored 23 goals in just 13 appearances this season for club and country, underlining his devastating effectiveness in front of goal.
Only four other Manchester City players have scored in the Premier League this season, each managing just one goal, reports the Independent. This statistic emphasises City's reliance on their Norwegian striker for crucial moments.
Tactical struggles evident
The Guardian notes that City's tactical struggles without Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne were evident in their lack of total control throughout the match. Guardiola's side looked less assured than usual in midfield areas, allowing Everton to remain competitive for significant periods.
Moyes believes Beto's second missed chance was actually onside and would have been overturned by VAR, according to the Liverpool Echo. The Everton manager will rue his side's inability to capitalise on their best opportunities against quality opposition.
Sources used: "Liverpool Echo", "Evening Standard", "Guardian", "Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
