With 12 defeats in their last 16 PL fixtures, Everton were expected to succumb to Premier League (PL) leaders City. Instead, Frank Lampard’s men matched their counterparts across the pitch during the opening 45 minutes and limited Jordan Pickford’s first-half work to one Kevin de Bruyne effort from distance. Everton were almost rewarded for their bright showing when Anthony Gordon stung Ederson’s palms, while Jonjoe Kenny thrashed an effort into the side netting from inside the area. The City keeper later produced a vital save to deny Richarlison from close range as, despite asking questions of the PL’s best defence, Everton were unable to find the net before the interval.
Their wastefulness in front of goal proved decisive as a much-improved second-half showing from City only looked to be deterred by an imperious Pickford, who somehow kept the game level with a sequence of stunning saves. Phil Foden was the first to be denied by the Everton keeper, who later stood tall to keep João Cancelo’s strike out. John Stones was next to work his England teammate from distance, before Pickford produced a superb double save to thwart De Bruyne and then Bernardo Silva in quick succession. Having headed De Bruyne’s whipped cross over, Foden later pounced on a mistake in the Everton defence to put the visitors ahead in the 82nd minute from no more than four yards. The ‘Toffees’ felt aggrieved to not have been awarded a penalty for what looked like handball from Rodri, but they saw their appeals waved away despite a VAR review.
Only twice prior to this clash had City lost successive league games under Pep Guardiola, and they were in no mood to do so a third time once they had gone in front. With ease, Manchester City held onto their lead to remain unbeaten in their last 13 PL away games, with Foden’s late goal potentially crucial in the title race. Everton, meanwhile, fell to a ninth straight defeat to the ‘Cityzens’ and, despite their impressive performance, remain 17th, just one point above the PL relegation zone.
