Manchester City 2, Everton 1
A double strike by Gabriel Jesus proved enough for Manchester City to beat Everton despite a late Richarlison goal for the visitors.
Embed from Getty ImagesJesus also hit the post as City tackled Carlo Ancelotti’s side with a new look three-man defence and dealt with them well despite their late defensive wobble on a day when VAR was once again under the microscope.
City made 5 changes from the win over Sheffield United.
Kyle Walker, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, and Sergio Aguero stepped down and were replaced by Joao Cancelo, Benjamin Mendy, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, and Gabriel Jesus.
Claudio Bravo continued in goal with Ederson reporting ill while Nicolas Otamendi was unavailable with an unspecified muscular injury.
And Everton started well when Seamus Coleman’s floated chance was tipped over by Claudio Bravo in the 9th minute.
Riyad Mahrez was deemed offside following a VAR check of the build-up after Phil Foden tapped in at the back post in the 12th minute following a pacy cross by Joao Cancelo and this briefly triggered off a volley of VAR protests by the fans.
There was even more unrest in the stadium as VAR checked for a penalty on Riyad Mahrez as he went down under the slightest of challenges by Lucas Digne.
City were wasteful with several clear chances, the best of which was a Gabriel Jesus lay off which set up Mahrez for a shot on goal but the Algerian screwed his shot wide shortly before half time.
City finally scored after the break when Gabriel Jesus found some space inside Mason Holgate after a great pass forward by Ilkay Gundogan and curled a shot past Jordan Pickford who got fingers on it but couldn’t stop it nestling in the back of the net and both sets of fans once again decried VAR for a pause in play before the restart.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header reminded City that Everton were still a threat.
City were comfortable until Everton started committing more to attack.
Theo Walcott’s cross deflected off Benjamin Mendy and fell to Richarlison who rifled it into the roof of the net from close range after Bravo’s poor clearance came off Richarlison and was intercepted by Moise Kean who recycled the ball quickly.
Everton proved continually dangerous as they sought the equaliser although Gabriel Jesus missed out on his hat trick – hitting the post when put through by Mahrez.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Everton 1
Claudio Bravo: 5. Confidence boosting save from Seamus Coleman early on. Cheered when coming off his line to make a clearance but dropped a clanger a minute later to gift Everton a chance on goal which they took. Looked wobbly as Everton committed more to attack late on.
Eric Garcia: 8. Used left side of the back three, was an influential and a cool head. Excellent timing to rob Moise Kean just before he went clean through.
Rodrigo: 6. Used on the right side of a back 3 with Nicolas Otamendi injured and was there to deal with any physical attacks by Lucas Digne.
Fernandinho: 8. Imperious defending at the back with 2 defensive partners close by.
Joao Cancelo: 6. Great cross at pace for a goal ruled out by VAR early on. Isolated down the right as City attacks went down the left.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7. Some genius passes, some sloppy passes, and had a shot saved by Pickford before picking out Gabriel Jesus for City’s opening goal.
Phil Foden: 7. Playing close to Jesus in a forward role, he had a back post goal ruled out by VAR and tested Jordan Pickford a couple of times. Had a claim for late penalty waved away.
Benjamin Mendy: 7. Less defensive responsibility. Great crosses from the left should have been converted at least once in the first half and showed more of his pace and energy as his confidence returns.
Riyad Mahrez: 7. Caught offside a couple of times, forced a save out of Jordan Pickford but also missed two great chances to open the scoring in the first half. Great ball to set up Jesus for his hat trick but Jesus hit the woodwork.
Kevin De Bruyne: 7. Some good passing early on but too deep to affect much in forward areas.
Gabriel Jesus: 9. Frustrating first half before a wonderful piece of skill after the break saw him skip inside Mason Holgate and curl a beautiful goal beyond Jordan Pickford after a forward pass from Ilkay Gundogan. His precision strike from 8 yards between Pickford and his near post from a Mahrez pass doubled that lead. Hit the post late on after Mahrez threaded him through late on.
David Silva (on for Phil Foden, 83): No time to mark.
Raheem Sterling (on for Riyad Mahrez 90+3): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Everton 1
Man City 1, Everton 0: 51. Gabriel Jesus found some space inside Mason Holgate after a great pass forward by Ilkay Gundogan and curled a shot past Jordan Pickford.
Man City 2, Everton 0: 58. Gabriel Jesus threaded the past between Jordan Pickford and the near post from 8 yards after he was picked out by Riyad Mahrez.
Man City 2, Everton 1: 71. Theo Walcott’s cross deflected off Benjamin Mendy and fell to Richarlison who rifled it into the roof of the net from close range after Claudio Bravo’s poor clearance came off Richarlison and was intercepted by Moise Kean.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Everton 1
Man City: Bravo, Garcia, Rodrigo, Fernandinho, Cancelo, Gundogan, Foden (David Silva 83), Mendy, Mahrez (Sterling 90+3), De Bruyne, Jesus
Man City Subs not used: Carson, Walker, Aguero, Angelino, Bernardo Silva
Goals: Jesus 51, 58
Everton: Pickford, Coleman (Walcott 59), Holgate, Mina, Digne, Sidibe, Sigurdsson (Kean 67), Delph, Davies, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
Everton Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Baines, Keane, Tosun, Gordon
Booking: Mina 30 (obstruction on Kevin De Bruyne), Delph 69 (foul on Joao Cancelo); Davies 80 (foul on Phil Foden); Calvert-Lewin 86 (dangerous foul on Fernandinho)
Goal: Richarlison 71
Referee: Andre Marriner