Football news - Manchester City City go top for first time since December with Everton victory
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ByEurosport
Updated 07/02/2019 at 00:02 GMT
Premier League, Goodison Park - Everton 0 Manchester City 2 (Laporte 45', Jesus 90+7')
Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City celebrates with Kyle Walker of Manchester City after he scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester City at Goodison Park on February 06, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingd
Image credit: Getty Images
Champions Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table on Wednesday evening as stoppage time goals in each half gave them a 2-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.
The match was rescheduled due to City's participation in the Carabao Cup final and combined with the Champions League fixtures this was left as the only acceptable date.
City came into the game three points behind Liverpool but knew that a victory would put them top thanks to their superior goal difference.
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Leroy Sane of Manchester City is tackled by Jonjoe Kenny of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester City at Goodison Park on February 06, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
Under pressure Blues boss Marco Silva rung the changes, benching Gylfi Sigurdsson, Richarlison and Seamus Coleman in favour of a youthful XI and the Portuguese would have been encouraged with his side's first-half display.
City were far from dominant but still created a couple of good early chances as Aymeric Laporte missed a simple header and Ilkay Gundogan hit the crossbar.
It was Everton's failure to deal with set-pieces that came back to haunt them once again, however, as Laporte broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a bullet-header from David Silva's delightful free-kick. It was the 14th time the Toffees have conceded from a free-kick this season - and it was City's first shot on target of the evening.
Everton rallied after the restart and though their build-up play was impressive they failed to create a clear-cut opportunity. And they were made to pay for a lack of penetration as City caught them cold on the counter-attack in stoppage time when Gabriel Jesus headed home after being played through by Kevin De Bruyne to seal the points.
City now lead the way with a goal difference of +48 compared to Liverpool's +41. Jurgen Klopp's side face Bournemouth on Saturday with the chance to go back top.
TALKING POINT - It's advantage City in the title race
It is only a week since City surrendered a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 at Newcastle, giving Liverpool a chance to restore a seven-point advantage at the top of the table. The Reds went on to draw with Leicester and West Ham, however, while City beat Arsenal - and here we are, City move to the summit for the first time since December 15 following this hard-fought and nervy victory over Everton, though they have played a game more than Liverpool.
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Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester City at Goodison Park on February 06, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
The final whistle prompted huge celebrations from the City players and their jubilant fans - just how significant will this victory prove to be in the title race come May? If they can beat Chelsea on Sunday, City will have come through a very difficult week with three wins from three.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Aymeric Laporte (Man City)
Standing in at left-back for the second consecutive contest, Laporte is proving himself to be Mr Versatile. This was another impressive performance from the defender in an unfamiliar position - his range of passing was superb and he popped up with the game's all-important opening goal.
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Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City celebrates with John Stones of Manchester City after he scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester City at Goodison Park on February 06, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdo
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Everton: Pickford 5, Kenny 5, Zouma 7, Keane 5, Digne 5, Gueye 8, Davies 7, Gomes 5, Walcott 4, Calvert-Lewin 5, Bernard 5. Subs: Sigurdsson 4, Richarlison 5, Tosun 4.
Man City: Ederson 7, Walker 6, Stones 7, Otamendi 7, Laporte 9, Gundogan 8, Fernandinho 8, David Silva 7, Bernardo Silva 8, Sergio Aguero 6, Leroy Sane 5. Subs: Sterling 5, De Bruyne 6, Jesus 6.
KEY MOMENTS
17' - HOW DOES HE MISS?! The corner is delivered, Pickford is caught in no man's land and Laporte has a free header at the far post but he somehow heads wide. City should be 1-0 up.
19' - OFF THE CROSSBAR! Sane slides a ball down the line to David Silva who crosses from the by-line and he picks out Gundogan who smashes the ball straight at the woodwork from point-blank range. Everton living dangerously.
45'+2 - GOAL! Everton 0-1 Man City: Laporte breaks the deadlock with a bullet header from David Silva's free-kick delivery! Pickford has no chance. City break Everton hearts just before half-time! It's the 14th time Silva's side have conceded from a free-kick this season.
90'+7 - GOAL! Everton 0-2 Manchester City: Jesus secures the points for City with virtually the last kick of the match! He has only been on the pitch a matter of minutes but De Bruyne registers an assist, slipping the ball through for the Brazilian whose initial shot is saved by Pickford but he heads in the follow-up into an empty net.
KEY STATS
- Manchester City will end the day top of the Premier League for the first time since December 15th 2018, when they were top after a win over Everton.
- Manchester City scored with their first shot on target in 15 Premier League games this season - six more than any other team.
- Gabriel Jesus' goal for Man City against Everton was the latest scored (96 minutes & 52 seconds) in a Premier League match since January 2017 (Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal v Burnley, 97:14).
- Everton made five line-up changes for tonight's match with Manchester City - their most between Premier League games under Marco Silva.
- Manchester City recorded a league double over Everton for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign, when they won the league under Manuel Pellegrini.
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