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.
Man City 0-0 Everton
13 min: What that pause in the game has achieved for Everton is just take the edge out of the stadium a little. The initial noise has dipped and it all feels a little flatter. City need to find a way to bring back the energy.
Man City 0-0 Everton
11 min: After a bit of treatment, Ederson is OK to continue. There will be a fair few minutes added on at the end of this half for that stoppage.
Man City 0-0 Everton
8 min: A pause in play after a clash in the City box between Ederson and Everton defender Ben Godfrey. Godfrey went into the challenge fully committed and the City keeper seems to be injured.
Man City 0-0 Everton
5 min: City are patiently probing, and Everton are defending with occasional shows of aggression. This time it’s Tarkowski who clatters through the back of Alvarez on the halfway line, conceding a foul. A moment later Everton pinch the ball and switch it to the left for McNeil, who crosses, and City clear. Brighter by Everton, that.
Man City 0-0 Everton
2 min: There’s the first sign of Jeremy Doku’s electric pace, as he dribbles into the Everton box and forces a corner from a nothing position. The corner is well defended by Everton, but just how early they are on the back foot here is pretty ominious for the rest of their afternoon.
Kick-off! Man City v Everton
And we’re off! Manchester City have immediately taken ownership of the football.
Man City v Everton
The players are out on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium. Sean Dyche has a rugby spot high up in the stands, looking over everything, due to his touchline ban today.
Man City v Everton line-ups
Five minutes until this Premier League weekend gets under way! Here’s a reminder of the two teams today:
Man City: Ederson, Stones, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Matheus Luiz, Rodri, Foden, Alvarez, Doku, Haaland.
Subs: Walker, Grealish, De Bruyne, Ortega, Bernardo Silva, Gvardiol, Bobb, Wright, Lewis.
Everton: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Young, Garner, Gueye, McNeil, Harrison, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Patterson, Keane, Onana, Virginia, Beto, Coleman, Chermiti, Hunt, Dobbin.
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire)
Pep Guardiola warns Man City ‘to be ready’ for lunchtime clash with Everton
Pep Guardiola has brushed off talk of his Manchester City side returning to the top of the Premier League as they prepare to host struggling Everton.
The champions can take over at the summit – for a few hours at least – if they beat the Toffees in their Saturday lunchtime encounter at the Etihad Stadium.
Yet after having difficulties against the Merseysiders in the past – Everton claimed a 1-1 draw in Manchester last season – the City manager is taking nothing for granted.
Pep Guardiola warns Man City ‘to be ready’ for lunchtime clash with Everton
The hosts can go top of the table, at least temporarily, with a win
Premier League managers respond to sin-bin proposals: ‘Not a fantastic idea’
More from the big story from Friday and sin bins:
Premier League managers have slammed propsoals to introduce blue cards and sin-bins into football.
Football’s lawmakers are determined to crack down on dissent towards referees by giving officials the power to send players to the technical area for 10 minutes - mirroring similar protocols that are used in rugby union and other sports.
However, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), have delayed publishing details of the trial until next month.
Premier League managers respond to sin-bin proposals: ‘Not a fantastic idea’
Blue cards could be shown to players sin-binned in new trials to try and improve participant behaviour
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