Manchester City needed patience and Erling Haaland’s inevitability to see off an adventurous Everton, with the Norwegian striker striking twice in the 58th and 63rd minutes to seal a 2-0 victory. After the first hour in which David Moyes’ side created the clearer chances, the champions-in-waiting shifted up a gear and let their No. 9 decide it.
Haaland, fresh from a hat-trick for Norway during the international break, had been subdued before he powered in a Nico O’Reilly cross and then swept home from a Savinho cut-back that nicked off James Tarkowski. Jordan Pickford denied the striker a late treble, but City’s win extended their unbeaten run to eight matches in all competitions and underlined why, even short of their most fluent rhythm, they remain daunting.
Everton set the terms early as Ndiaye tests City’s poise
Everton arrived buoyed by a last-gasp win over Crystal Palace and played with that confidence. When Nathan Aké passed into trouble, Iliman Ndiaye pounced, gliding forward and squaring across the six-yard box; Beto was inches from turning it in with Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded. The Senegal international, who scored here last season, repeatedly unsettled City’s back line.