Man City reverses poor run
Fourth place for champs
Manchester City came from behind to beat Everton 3-1 on its return from the Club World Cup on Wednesday, moving five points behind Premier League leader Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s men, chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive English top-flight title, were in trouble when trailing 1-0 at Goodison Park, courtesy of a first-half strike from former City player Jack Harrison.
But Phil Foden fizzed a shot past Jordan Pickford in the 53rd minute and Julian Alvarez put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.
Bernardo Silva capped a brilliant second-half performance for the champions, taking advantage of an error from Pickford in the closing minutes.
Elsewhere, Chelsea’s Noni Madueke scored a late winner from the penalty spot in a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace to lift spirits at Stamford Bridge after a miserable 2023, while Wolves hammered fast-sinking Brentford 4-1.
City, which had won just one of its previous six league games, is now back in fourth spot with a game in hand over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, which has 42 points. Last season’s runner-up, Arsenal, two points behind Liverpool, is in action against West Ham on Friday morning (AEST).
“I remind them (of their abilities) every day,” Guardiola told Amazon Prime. “We have standards to keep. That makes us have more responsibility so the standards cannot go down.” He added: “They showed again how special they are. We know after six games with just one win the people were asking, which is normal because it is all about results, but we are close.”
City came into the match against Everton on a high after winning the Club World Cup last week in Saudi Arabia – its fifth trophy during an extraordinary 2023.
But it has not had its own way in the Premier League in recent weeks. City forced Sean Dyche’s Everton on to the back foot early but could not make its domination of possession count and it was the battling home team that engineered a breakthrough when City failed to clear.
Rodri gave the ball away in his own box and Dwight McNeil picked up the free ball, producing a fine cross for Harrison to steer home.
Harrison almost doubled the lead minutes later, forcing a fine fingertip save at full stretch from Ederson in the City goal.
Everton held on to its lead until the break but City, still without the injured Erling Haaland, came out full of intent in the second period.
It got the reward it deserved when Foden found himself in space on the edge of the area and hit a rocket into the bottom corner, giving England’s Pickford no chance.
Referee John Brooks awarded a penalty shortly after the hour mark, penalising Amadou Onana for handball, and Alvarez blasted it down the middle.
Silva sealed all three points when Pickford was closed down by Alvarez and the ball was deflected into his path, with the Portugal international curling into an open net.