Erling Haaland returned to goalscoring form with a second-half brace as Man City defeated a determined Everton side 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium. The win lifts Manchester City to the top of the Premier League table, at least temporarily, as Pep Guardiola’s side continues to find form after a shaky start to the season.
For nearly an hour, Everton frustrated Man City with a compact defensive setup and impressive work from forward Iliman Ndiaye. David Moyes’ men created early chances and looked set to cause an upset, but Haaland’s clinical finishing made the difference.
The Norwegian striker broke the deadlock just after the hour mark, rising highest to nod home a pinpoint cross from young midfielder Nico O’Reilly. Just minutes later, Haaland struck again, sweeping home a second to take his Premier League tally to 11 goals this season. The double not only secured three points for Man City but also reaffirmed Haaland’s place at the top of the league’s scoring charts.
Man City take control after early scare
Everton started brightly, with Beto missing a golden chance in the opening minutes. Iliman Ndiaye also forced a brilliant save from Man City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who tipped the effort wide at full stretch.
Despite the pressure, Man City stayed patient and grew into the match. Their dominance became more apparent in the second half, and once the first goal came, the result looked inevitable.
City’s recent form—four wins and one draw in their last five league games—has propelled them back to the summit of the Premier League. Following their uncharacteristic stumbles in August, which saw them lose two of their first three games, Guardiola’s team now look firmly back in contention.
David Moyes: ‘I wish Haaland played somewhere else’
After the match, Everton manager David Moyes could only admire the finishing ability of Man City striker Haaland.
“I wish he was somewhere else,” Moyes said with a wry smile. “Let’s be fair, most managers will be thinking the same.”
While Moyes felt his team handled Haaland well for most of the game, he acknowledged the forward’s unique talent.
“I thought we did a really good job on him. Then you say, ‘How can you say that? He’s just scored two goals.’ His ability to score—he has something others don’t. One-on-one, he’s nearly unstoppable.”
Despite the loss, Everton can take heart from their first-half performance, particularly from Ndiaye, who caused problems for the Man City backline.
Guardiola on Haaland: ‘We found him more’
Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, was delighted to see his team finally making better use of their prolific striker.
“I’m really pleased,” the Man City boss said. “We found him much more than before. In the first half, not much, but after the break, we got the ball to him. And that is really important. When you have this type of player, you have to use him.”
Guardiola noted that Haaland could have had four or five goals on another day but praised his ability to remain clinical when it matters most.
Phil Foden shines in second half
Both managers singled out Man City midfielder Phil Foden for his influence in the game. Moyes acknowledged that while Ndiaye was arguably the best player in the first half, Foden took over in the second.
“Foden changed the game,” Moyes admitted. “He managed the tempo brilliantly.”
Guardiola compared Foden’s development to fine wine, praising the 25-year-old for learning to control the rhythm of play.
“I’ve said many times, it was a question of time,” Guardiola explained. “You cannot play all the time in sixth gear. Now he knows when to speed up, when to slow down. He’s becoming more complete. Phil is brilliant—and he’ll only get better.”
Man City back on top with eyes on the title
With this win, Man City climb to the top of the table, ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Fulham later in the day. Despite not hitting their usual high-flying form, Guardiola’s side are grinding out results, and with Haaland firing again, they remain strong favourites to retain their Premier League crown.
Everton, meanwhile, sit in mid-table with 11 points. Their attack continues to struggle, with Beto and Thierno Barry combining for just one goal all season. In contrast, Man City boast the league’s top scorer in Haaland—highlighting the gap in quality between the two sides.
As the season progresses, this performance is a reminder that Man City, even when not at their best, have the depth, talent, and firepower to stay in the title race.
Source – Skysports
