Manchester City roared back from a goal down to defeat Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park, reclaiming their place in the English Premier League’s top four and extending their unbeaten run against the Toffees.
Everton Strike First, But City Responds in Style
The away side showed initial signs of a Club World Cup hangover, falling behind to Jack Harrison’s well-taken 29th-minute opener. Alex Iwobi capitalised on a Rodri error to set up the goal, leaving City facing an uphill battle against their Merseyside rivals.
However, Pep Guardiola’s men responded magnificently in the second half. Phil Foden equalised from a distance with a thunderbolt of a shot, igniting the City attack. Shortly after, Julián Álvarez put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after Onana was adjudged to have handled the ball while blocking Nathan Aké’s effort.
Silva Seals the Win, Everton Left Languishing
Bernardo Silva wrapped up the three points for City with just four minutes remaining, ensuring all three points would return to Manchester. The win sees City leapfrog Tottenham back into fourth place, albeit five points adrift of league leaders Liverpool. Everton, meanwhile, remain precariously close to the relegation zone, sitting just one point clear of 18th-placed Luton Town, who have a game in hand.
Looking ahead, Sheffield United is set to visit Manchester City on Saturday, while Everton faces a challenging trip to Wolves on the same day. The victory carries added significance for Guardiola, as Sean Dyche’s winless streak against the City manager extends to 14 Premier League encounters across spells with Burnley and Everton.
Remarkably, Everton’s loss breaks a streak dating back to January, marking the first time they have suffered defeat in a Premier League game after taking a 1-0 lead. This result ends their 17-game unbeaten run when scoring first, underlining the significance of Manchester City’s comeback.
Statistics also reveal Manchester City’s unusual pattern of conceding first this season, having gone 1-0 down in seven Premier League games. Despite this, their resilience is evident, having lost only two of their last 12 league games when trailing at halftime, winning seven and drawing three.
