FODEN’S STRIKE OPENS UP
MANCHESTER City moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League but only after a hard-fought victory over stubborn Everton.
Frank Lampard’s side defended resolutely for more than 80 minutes but a deflection to a Bernardo Silva cross left Michael Keane flat-footed and Phil Foden pounced on the Everton defender’s lack of control to finish from close range.
Moments later there was controversy when the ball appeared to spin up and hit City midfielder Rodri on the arm as he went to clear in the box, but after a lengthy VAR check no penalty was given.
City held on to go six points clear of
Liverpool, who have a game in hand but are not playing in the league this weekend as they face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup Final. Defeat leaves Everton just one point above the relegation zone.
Everton’s hopes were dealt an early blow with the news that Dominic Calvert-Lewin had not shaken off a minor groin injury in time to claim a place in the squad. Their opponents came into the game with problems of their own having suffered a shock loss to Spurs last time out, but that prompted just one change to the line-up – John Stones taking Kyle Walker’s place at right-back.
Both sets of players gave a nod to the far bigger problems facing the world prior to kick-off, Everton’s players draping themselves in Ukrainian flags as their City counterparts wore T-shirts bearing those colours.
The impact of that statement could be seen in the emotional faces of Vitalii Mykolenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who both took a place on the respective benches.
It took until the 29th minute for a first shot on target, which came when a weak Kevin De Bruyne left-footer was easily collected by Jordan Pickford.
That did not spark a change in fortunes, either, with Everton enjoying the better of the chances before the end of the half.
One of those saw Jonjoe Kenny drive into the side-netting inside the box after great work from Allan.
Richarlison then forced Ederson into a save with a snapshot from close range.
City still had time to offer a reminder of their threat just before the half-time whistle when they had the numerical advantage on the break after a spell of Everton pressure. But a lung-busting run from Donny van de Beek meant he was on hand to make up the numbers and snuff out the danger.
It wasn’t long until the visitors were piling the pressure again, with only a sharp Pickford save keeping out a low Foden effort before Joao Cancelo’s follow-up was also repelled.
England’s No.1 again had to show off his shot-stopping skills with 20 minutes remaining as he brilliantly got down to a low De Bruyne effort and then pulled off a sensational one-handed save from the onrushing Silva.
But there would have been nothing Pickford could have done to stop Ilkay Gundogan scoring had the German done better than to jump underneath a De Bruyne cross moments later.
After labouring for more than 81 minutes City finally made the breakthrough after a mistake by Keane.
Silva’s deflected cross caught the Everton centre-back on his heels and he missed the ball on the edge of the six-yard area allowing Foden a simple chance to convert from close range.
But there was controversy with five minutes to play as the ball appeared to hit Rodri’s arm in the box. Everton were denied the chance to equalise from the penalty spot after a VAR check, with Lampard’s assistant Ashley Cole booked for his protests after the final whistle.