Manchester City battled back with three second-half goals to beat Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park on Wednesday, and reclaim a spot in the Premier League’s top-four as a result.
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After winning the Club World Cup last week, the three-time defending Premier League champions (37 points) now sit five points back of leaders Liverpool with a game in hand to reach the halfway point of the 2023-24 season. Everton (16 points), meanwhile, remain 17th, now just one point above Luton Town, who have a game in hand of their own.
It was absolutely all Manchester City for much of the first half, with Everton having just one shot — a Beto header which went wide of the 18-yard box altogether in the 1st minute — prior to the opening goal. Jordan Pickford made a double save to keep the game scoreless in the 14th minute as Matheus Nunes and Julian Alvarez had plenty of the goal to aim at, but each hit their shot right at the Everton ‘keeper.
Pickford made four saves in the opening half-hour, keeping the Toffees level until they could fashion their first real scoring chance of the game. It came in the 29th minute, as Rodri was dispossessed on the edge of his own penalty area, facing his own goal. Dwight McNeil dribbled toward the end line and crossed to the top of the six, where Jack Harrison arrived and applied the finish against his former club.
Everton led at halftime, but not for much longer after the restart. Phil Foden was left all by his lonesome 25 yards from goal, found by Bernardo Silva, not closed down quickly enough to block a beauty of a shot off his wand of a left foot. Pickford desperately dove low and to his left, but Foden found a keyhole in the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
Manchester City’s tails were up at that point, chasing a winner with renewed hope and energy. They had a corner kick in the 62nd minute, initially headed away before a follow-up from Foden was blocked as well. Nathan Ake turned to fire another effort on goal, but Amadou Onana got his body in the way, only it was his raised right hand which made the block. Julian Alvarez stepped to the spot and converted to take the lead.
As good as Pickford was to keep Everton in the game early, it was his mistake in the 86th minute which ended their hopes of rescuing a point. On the ball outside his penalty area, England’s no. 1 passed it straight to Bernardo Silva’s feet on the right wing. Silva lifted and curled a floated finish into the open net for a gigantic sigh of relief for a side that had found numerous ways to lose or draw games they should have otherwise won in recent weeks.
What’s next?
Both sides will be back in action in less than 72 hours, as Man City close out 2023 with a visit from Sheffield United on Saturday (10 am ET) and Everton travel to Molineux Stadium to take on Wolves at the same time.
Player ratings - Everton vs Manchester City
Everton vs Manchester City, final score: 1-3
Goalscorers: Jack Harrison (29'), Phil Foden (53'), Julian Alvarez (64'), Bernardo Silva (86')
29th minute - GOAL - Jack Harrison finishes after Rodri loses ball on edge of penalty area
53rd minute - GOAL - Phil Foden equalizes with a sweet strike from distance
64th minute - GOAL - Julian Alverez converts the penalty after Amadou Onana handball
86th minute - GOAL - Bernardo Silva secures the win after Jordan Pickford’s giveaway
How to watch Everton vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3:15pm ET, Wednesday (December 27)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBC.com
Everton starting lineup
Pickford — Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko — Onana, Gomes — Harrison, Garner, McNeil, Beto
Manchester City starting lineup
Ederson — Walker, Stones, Akanji, Ake — Rodri, Nunes — Silva, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez
Focus on Everton, team news
Everton were excellent in the second half of their defeat at Tottenham and Danjuma was particularly dangerous and could be pushing for a start. Everton pushed high to win the ball back against Spurs’ high-line and they will try something similar against City, knowing they will have to weather a storm at some stage but have talented players on the counter, and the backing of their tremendous fans at Goodison, to put pressure on City in the second half.
OUT: Dele Alli (groin), Abdoulaye Doucoure (hamstring), Ashley Young (knock), Seamus Coleman (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Idrissa Gana Gueye (knock)
Focus on Manchester City, team news
City have been rotating their lineup in all of the competitions they’ve been in and Guardiola is doing his best to get the defensive balance right. With four center backs rolled out there most weeks it is intriguing to see how City will fare with Everton’s counter-attacking speed and tricky wide players. Alvarez will again lead the line with Haaland still out.
OUT: Kevin de Bruyne (hamstring), Jeremy Doku (other), Erling Haaland (foot)