by Manchester City seems to have done the good at the Club World Cup. Pep Guardiola’s side returned from Saudi Arabia with their fifth trophy of 2023 in the bag and renewed confidence, a fragile asset even among a group of serial winners. The belief and class of the champions eventually overwhelmed Everton as they resumed their Premier League title defense in spectacular style.
Guardiola led the post-match celebrations in front of jubilant City supporters, and took the opportunity to not only share his latest success but highlight the greatness of Phil Foden at Goodison Park. Foden, performing in the role of No. 10, central to City’s recovery after they fell behind after losing opener Jack Harrison and John Stones to injury in the first half.
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The player took the penalty to award Crystal Palace ahead of the trip to Saudi Arabia with a superb equalizer when Everton’s solid Jordan Pickford steamed in after half-time. Julián Álvarez put City ahead with a controversial penalty before Bernardo Silva capitalized on Pickford’s mistake to seal the win with another fine finish. Sean Dyche’s side contained the champions and were injured before the break but they were working when Guardiola ordered the visitors to go more direct.
City have found it harder to overcome Premier League opposition than “the world” recently. The champions had won once in six league games before the visit to Goodison and were again without Erling Haaland, who was absent from the win at Aston Villa on December 6 with a foot injury. The visitors sorely missed his finishing ability and physical presence in controlling proceedings before falling behind, but they lacked the cutting edge to make him count.
Pickford mirrored his team’s performance: initially resilient but ultimately careless. Goalkeeper Álvarez, Matheus Nunes, Álvarez again and Jack Grealish denied the goalless game. Everton barely tested City before taking an unexpected lead.
A reluctant Beto, in the case of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, was often given the thankless task of chasing points of hope deep into the City half with precious little support. The home crowd had to entertain themselves with fits of laughter in response to City supporters chanting “you cheating bastards, you know what you are”, after Everton’s deduction of 10 points for a single breach of the financial rules Premier League. The hearing about the City’s 115 charges is still in a very long pipeline.
However, Goodison got on their own when Dyche’s side took the lead from their first attempt on goal. It was a great disaster for Rodri, who used to be imperial. The defensive midfielder was in the process of clearing an Everton attack when, under pressure from Beto on the edge of his area, he inadvertently slipped and released Dwight McNeil to the byline. With the visiting defense caught out, McNeil drew a simple cross forward for former City player Harrison to beat Ederson with a precise, close-range finish.
Harrison came close to doubling Everton’s lead when André Gomes’ corner fell at his feet through the head of James Tarkowski. The Leeds midfielder lent a shot towards the top corner with the outside of his left foot. A second appeared but Ederson produced a brilliant saw to flick the ball away with his fingertips.
City’s problems came to a head when Stones suffered a serious injury. The defender rolled his ankle as he dispossessed Beto with a superb challenge, although the striker was offside; the incident showed the danger of allowing the play to continue. The former Everton man made no effort to continue, and was sportingly applauded by both supporters.
Guardiola’s team was being tested on every side. And, like any good champion, they dug deep to come up with a convincing answer. City’s movement, intensity and directness improved greatly in the second half, with a quick equalizer rewarding. Silva and Nunes gave notice of the visitors’ improved threat as they combined to prize Everton’s defense down the right.
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Tarkowski cut out the midfielder’s dangerous low cross at the cost of a corner, City worked from one side of the Everton box to the other and back again. When Silva laid the ball back to Foden he unleashed a brilliant 25-yard drive that flew over Beto’s outstretched leg and inside Pickford’s left-hand post. The keeper was impressed with the speed and accuracy of the shot.
Pickford did well to prevent Álvarez’s free-kick from finding the top corner but was beaten again when City were awarded a penalty when Nathan Aké’s shot hit the arm of Amadou Onana. There was no question that Onana’s hand was raised but Dyche insisted the midfielder was close to the City defender when he turned to shoot inside the area.
John Brooks, the referee, initially ignored City’s appeals before taking aim at his assistant’s advice. The decision was upheld by VAR and Álvarez fired the penalty down the middle of Pickford’s goal and just under the keeper’s feet.
Silva sealed the victory after a poor mistake by Pickford, who delayed a clearance before hitting it against Álvarez and Jarrad Branthwaite. Silva pounced on the loose ball to curl a superb finish around the stranded goalkeeper and into the unguarded net.
