Man City v Everton LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Erling Haaland seals victory
Pep Guardiola’s side replaced Liverpool at the top of the Premier League with victory at the Etihad Stadium
Erling Haaland netted a brace with his first goals since his return from injury to lift Manchester City to a 2-0 home victory over relegation-threatened Everton on Saturday and provisionally into top spot in the Premier League table.
Pep Guardiola’s team have 52 points after 23 games, while Liverpool -- who can reclaim the lead with a win over Burnley later on Saturday -- have 51 points, also from 23 games. Everton are in the relegation zone in 18th.
Haaland, who recently missed almost two months with a broken bone in his foot, netted his 15th and 16th of the season to go clear at the top of the Premier League scorers’ list.
The Toffees’ stifling defence frustrated City before the Norwegian striker finally broke the deadlock in the 71st minute when he fired home a blistering shot after a corner kick.
Haaland completed the brace when he ran onto a pass from Kevin De Bruyne in midfield before beating Jarrad Branthwaite and then coolly slotting it past keeper Jordan Pickford.
Erling Haaland ends rare goal drought to save soporific Manchester City against Everton
Full report from Manchester City’s two-goal win over Everton,m which sends them top of the table for now at least:
Erling Haaland ends rare goal drought to save soporific City against Everton
Manchester City 2-0 Everton: The champions made hard work of victory but eventually overcame stubborn resistance with a double by their superstar striker Haaland
FT: Man City 2-0 Everton
Full time: It might have taken City a long time to break the deadlock, but once they did the result was never in doubt.
De Bruyne’s introduction ultimately changed the game, it added a direction to City’s domination, but it was Erling Haaland who will rightly be named man of the match.
Two big chances and two goals from the league’s top goalscorer.
Man City 2-0 Everton
90+8 min: Is there time for one last City attack?
They have had almost all of the ball in added time so far.
Man City 2-0 Everton
90+6 min: Grealish pulls the ball back to Foden on the edge of the box, his low shot is goalwards-bound, but Pickford is able to make a relatively straightforward save.
Man City 2-0 Everton
90+4 min: City are just playing the ball around inside their own half, maybe the final spark has gone out of the game.
Man City 2-0 Everton
90+2 min: Man City are playing the ball around comfortably and are looking for a third, with the injection of pace from the substitutes including Grealish.
Man City 2-0 Everton
90+1 min: Everton have the ball in the back of the net, Beto did not time his run well and was flagged offside but it eas a good turn and finish.
We are into the 10 minutes of added time.
Man City 2-0 Everton
90 min: Man City have not lost any of their last 32 home games, winning 28 of them.
Man City 2-0 Everton
88 min: The game has just slowed down since the second goal, which came as Everton tried to commit forward to find an equaliser.
Man City 2-0 Everton
87 min: Doku comes off for Grealish with the result all but wrapped up in favour of the home side.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies