Steve Bates

Yet the perception among City fans was that the Algerian was a squad player more than a first-choice starter who could dislodge Bernardo Silva.

His performance at Goodison maybe dispelled that assumption – for Mahrez was a stand-out performer.

He grabbed 12 goals in 45 games last season and scored the vital second beating a suspect Jordan Pickford with a great free-kick on a night when his clever skills made a difference.

City were ahead in 53 seconds against Watford as they blitzed the Hornets 8-0 a week ago. This time there was no early goal – but an injury blow that left Everton’s game plan in a mess after just 45 seconds.

Theo Walcott appeared to be caught on the temple by the ball and there was genuine concern for the winger who was stretchered straight to an ambulance in the ground.

The six- minute stoppage didn’t disrupt City’s focus on trying to break the deadlock, nor Everton’s desire to be competitive. Ilkay Gundogan somehow fired a cross- shot from Mahrez onto the bar from point-blank range but the goal City’s early play deserved arrived after 24 minutes.

Intensity

Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne were at the hub of City’s creativity and the Belgian perfectly picked out Gabriel Jesus who headed his third goal for Guardiola (right) in 10 days.

Everton showed intensity and fight and they were level after 33 minutes as Dominic Calvert-lewin nicked a goal off of his captain Seamus Coleman.

The striker made sure the defender’s clip over Ederson went over the line by applying the final touch following a rare mistake by stand- in centre back Fernandinho.

For a while Everton slugged it out – but Sterling’s late goal was a killer blow they simply couldn’t prevent as City closed the gap on Liverpool to five points.