Gabriel Jesus has scored a goal for Manchester City!
GOOOAAALLL!!! GABRIEL JESUS WRAPS IT UP! After opening the coring in first-half stoppage time, City have repeated the feat un this half. A magical pass from De Bruyne sets Jesus away, and despite Pickford’s save, the Brazil striker gets to the loose ball and heads home.
90' +5
A looping, high ball from deep puts Kenny in an awkward position, and the youngster can only head the ball back out in the centre of the pitch. Fortunately for the full-back, Keane was well placed to bring it down and clear.
90' +3
On the break from a City corner, Tosun threads a wonderful pass out wide to Richarlison. He beats Walker in a sprint, but his cross is then deflected straight to Ederson.
90' +1
Guardiola is frantically gesturing at his players from the touchline, demanding more organisation. His side have seven minutes of stoppage time to play. As it stands, they’re heading back to the top of the league.
89'
K. De Bruyne enters the game and replaces David Silva.
A third and final change now for City, and it’s not a bad player to have in reserve! David Silva is making way, with De Bruyne coming on for a cameo appearance, albeit there could be a large chunk of stoppage time.
88'
A long throw by Digne causes some problems for Fernandinho, who can only head the ball up in the air. Ederson, though, deals with it confidently.
82'
K. Zouma gets yellow.
Zouma becomes the first Everton player to go into the book, much to the Evertonians’ chagrin. The Frenchman dived in on Gabriel Jesus, but there did not appear to be too much in the foul.
80'
C. Tosun enters the game and replaces T. Walcott.
Gabriel Jesus enters the game and replaces S. Agüero.
Silva has rolled the dice with his final change. Tosun is on in place of Walcott, whose end product was sorely lacking. Calvert-Lewin will now move out to the right.
A second change for City. Aguero has fed off scraps for much of today’s encounter, and now makes way for Gabriel Jesus.
79'
Sigurdsson does well to close down Ederson, whose kick is directed straight to Davies. The youngster cannot turn his header into Walcott’s path, though, and City escape unscathed.
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78'
Everton are applying some pressure again now, but despite plenty of neat passing in midfield and down the flanks, aren’t really testing City’s defence, and now the visitors will have a chance to counter after dispossessing Richarlison.
75'
More determined play by Kenny, who makes a lung-busting run to divert a slack pass into Walcott’s path. The former Arsenal man has plenty of time to get his head up, but again delivers a poor cross.
73'
Richarlison enters the game and replaces Bernard.
Fernandinho gets yellow.
The pause in play allows Everton to make their second change. Richarlison is on, replacing his compatriot Bernard.
Finally, Fernandinho gets his booking, sparking sarcastic cheers from the Goodison faithful. Gueye had done brilliantly to make a crucial challenge before sending the ball wide to Digne, but Fernandinho still clattered into him anyway, and this time the referee does brandish a yellow.
72'
It looks like there could be another change coming for Everton, with Richarlison stripped and ready to come on. De Bruyne is also out warming up, for City of course.
70'
That’s a vital block by Davies! Walker did well to get the better of Bernard and then Digne before charging forward, with the ball eventually coming to David Silva on the edge of the box. Everton’s skipper, though, is on hand to make sure his strike never reaches the target.
66'
Sigurdsson’s introduction seems to have meant a change of shape for Everton, with the Iceland international taking up position just off Calvert-Lewin. Davies has dropped deeper to partner Gueye.
65'
Excellent play from Walcott, who evades the challenges of a glut of City defenders before getting to the byline and dinking in a cross which the visions can only clear for a corner.
63'
G. Sigurðsson enters the game and replaces André Gomes.
Everton have responded to that City change with a substitution of their own. Sigurdsson is on, with Gomes coming off.
62'
Davies, and Pickford, are both furious with referee Pawson now, after the official decides not to book Fernandinho for another hefty challenge on Everton’s captain, who did well to win a foul and relieve some pressure.
61'
Reckless play from City, as Ederson’s sloppy pass puts his defence in trouble. Walcott latches onto a loose ball, only to then waste the chance by sending a tame cross straight into Ederson’s grasp.
59'
R. Sterling enters the game and replaces L. Sané.
A first substitution of the game comes from City, as Sane makes way for Sterling. The Germany international saw plenty of the ball, but never quite managed to make it click.
54'
That’s poor! Digne takes the free-kick, but directs a team effort straight into the wall. Bernard tries to pick up the scraps, only to take a heavy touch that sends the ball out of play.
53'
Fantastic footwork from Davies, as he draws Fernandinho into a rash foul around 30 yards out from City’s goal. The veteran Brazilian manages to escape further punishment, though, with Digne and Bernard standing over the free-kick.
52'
Back to their full complement of players, City clear Everton’s corner, but only as far as Gueye, who tries his luck with a venomous strike. The midfielder really caught hold of his effort, but Ederson is equal to it.
50'
Digne puts in a wonderful cross, which Zouma tries to meet. Fernandinho, though, gets there first, diverting it out for a corner.
49'
Walcott is back to his feet first, and looks set to continue. Laporte, though, takes longer to get back up before being guided to the touchline. In the meantime, Everton will take a free-kick…
46'
KICK-OFF! We are out for the second half.
45' +3
HALF-TIME: EVERTON 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY.
45' +2
Aymeric Laporte has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by David Silva.
It was a sublime free-kick by David Silva, but questions will again have to be asked about Everton’s dreadful defending from set-pieces, with Zouma particularly guilty in that instance.
GOAL! CITY TAKE THE LEAD! Everton’s abysmal set-piece record strikes again! Laporte has got the goal, rising highest to meet David Silva’s free-kick and send his header past Pickford.
45'
Gueye concedes a sloppy free-kick, right on the stroke of half-time, handing City the chance to test Everton’s defence one final time.
43'
City kick it up a gear as a raking pass finds Sane at the back post, and he cushions the ball back for Bernardo Silva. Pickford makes an outstanding save, but it would not have counted anyway, as Sane had already been flagged for offside.
42'
Keane has had a solid game so far, but the former Burnley man was all at sea as a looping ball fell to Sane in the area. Fortunately, Zouma was on hand to spare his blushes. Moments later, Gundogan goes down on the edge of the box under pressure from Gomes, but referee Pawson waves away City’s appeals for a foul.
41'
City look to break quickly after they clear a corner, but Walker hesitates on the ball, allowing Davies to close the angle and force the England full-back into going sideways. Everton have certainly put in a gritty display so far.
39'
After that brief spell of Everton momentum, City are back on the attack. It doesn’t last long this time, though, as Gomes robs Aguero of possession before setting Bernard away. He returns the favour, but Gomes cannot pick out Calvert-Lewin, who had made a decent run beyond City's defence.
37'
Everton look to keep up some pressure after winning a throw, but City get it clear. Aguero smartly backs into Gueye, who has his hands all over the Argentine, and wins a free-kick.
35'
That is superb play from Stones, who has actually starters to move into midfield when City are on the attack. First, he turns Gomes with a wonderful bit of footwork, moving the visitors forward. The England international then receives the ball back and immediately looks to feed Sane with a looping pass, but just gets too much on it.
28'
Everton have enjoyed a decent spell of possession in the last few minutes, but must look to get Bernard and Gomes – the most creative players in their XI – more involved if they are to truly threaten City.
22'
Kenny has performed admirably for Everton so far up against two world class players, but the youngster desperately needs some help from Walcott ahead of him, who has failed to track back and mark either Sane or David Silva.
15'
Predictably, City have already seen over 60 per cent of possession, but Everton are defending resolutely. A smart pass from Gundogan finds Sane, who looks to cut the ball back for his compatriot, but Zouma gets across to make a good block.
13'
A bit of a worry now for City, as Sane goes down after a collision with Keane. He eventually gets back to his feet without having to receive treatment, but it’s certainly one Guardiola will be keeping an eye on.
11'
David Silva finds space in-between Everton’s lines, and quickly proceeds to link up with Sane. However, unusually for the Spaniard, he puts too much on his throughball, and even with his pace, Sane is unable to keep the ball in play.
9'
Kenny does well under pressure, crafting enough space to turn out of trouble and clear Everton’s lines. Davies looks to close down a heavy touch from Gundogan, but only manages to concede a free-kick, and the City pressure will start again.
5'
A searching punt from Ederson is brought down brilliantly by Aguero, who fortunately for Everton is quickly crowded out. The Toffees break, with Davies – captaining the side – driving forward and relieving some pressure.
2'
Well, if there was any question about Everton’s intention heading into this game, the hosts have looked to make a positive start. Calvert-Lewin shrugged off Sane’s challenge and got clear down the left, drilling a ball in that Gomes latched onto. The referee Craig Pawson, however, had already called play back for a foul by Bernard on Fernandinho.
1'
KICK-OFF! We are up and running at Goodison, with City getting proceedings underway.
Hello and welcome to what could be a pivotal clash in the Premier League title race, as champions Manchester City face Everton at Goodison Park!
City bounced back from defeat at Newcastle United by comfortably beating Arsenal last time out, thanks to Sergio Aguero’s hat-trick. And Pep Guardiola’s side were then boosted by Liverpool’s failure to beat West Ham on Monday, meaning a victory today would move them top on goal difference.
To add more drama, it is of course Liverpool’s neighbours Everton who they face. Marco Silva has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks following a run of just two wins from the Toffees’ last six league outings, while they were also dumped out of the FA Cup. However, it could be catch 22 for the Everton boss, considering a win could hand his side’s arch rivals a major boost in their title bid.
EVERTON (4-3-3): Jordan Pickford; Jonjoe Kenny, Michael Keane, Kurt Zouma, Lucas Digne; Andre Gomes, Idrissa Gueye, Tom Davies; Theo Walcott, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Bernard.
EVERTON SUBS: Maarten Stekelenburg, Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Morgan Schneiderlin, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Cenk Tosun.
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Danilo, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arijanet Muric.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Aymeric Laporte; Ilkay Gundogan, Fernandinho, David Silva; Bernardo Silva, Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane.
We’re almost ready at Goodison. The teams are making their way out onto the pitch, and there’s just minutes to go until kick-off!
Everton have performed with determination, and Silva will be looking for more of the same in the second half, albeit with more attacking threat. Guardiola, meanwhile, will surely be insisting his side put this game to bed after the interval.
As it stands, then, City lead the way on goal difference, albeit Liverpool now have a game in hand on their title rivals. That fixture, however, does come in the form of a trip to Old Trafford to face in-form Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola’s attention will now switch to Sunday’s huge clash with Chelsea. Everton, meanwhile, face their manager’s former club Watford a day earlier, and though the Toffees can take heart from a gritty display, it is now just two wins in seven league games for Marco Silva’s side.
Well, that’s all for now. Until next time, thank you and goodbye!
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