Everton have an obvious weakness: Five things learned as Man City win 3-1

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Man City defeat Everton 2-0 to return to the top of the Premier League table ahead of Liverpool’s crucial clash against Manchester United on Sunday. 

City’s unbeaten streak came to an end last weekend when they were defeated 2-0 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Pep Guardiola’s men needed to keep the pressure on Liverpool after the Reds knocked them off the top spot.

Despite a few shaky moments this was routine fair for the Citizens, and a comfortable victory when they kept several marquee players on the bench this afternoon. Kevin De Bruyne finally returned after not featuring since November 1, after suffering two separate knee injuries.

A brace from Gabriel Jesus and a single from Raheem Sterling was enough to take all the points and maintain the Citizens unbeaten run at home on a cold and wet encounter at the Etihad.

Here’s five things we learned from the Premier League’s Saturday lunch-time kick-off.

1. Business as usual for Sterling

Raheem Sterling was the victim of alleged racist abuse during City’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea last Saturday.

In the wake of the incident at Stamford Bridge, Sterling was critical of the media’s role of fuelling racism through the portrayal of black footballers.

The statement he issued last Sunday has been described as a “game-changer” in how it has highlighted some of the nuances of the issue of racism within football and Manchester United defender Gary Neville said during Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, “I’ve probably thought about this (racism in football) more in the past 24 hours than I ever have done.”

Such added attention could become a distraction for a player. Perhaps this is why Guardiola decided to bench Sterling for the Everton game, though if this was the case the City manager did not admit as much when speaking to Sky’s pre-match reporters.

“Everyone deserves to play, everyone wants to play,” said the Spaniard.

“I miss Raheem but everyone has to play. I try to move the squad so everyone is involved. If we win something this season it will be because of everyone’s efforts.”

In any case, there was no indication the abuse from last week or recent racism debate had affected Sterling’s concentration when, with half an hour, he scored an intelligent header to restore City’s two-goal lead with his very first touch.

The goal also means no other player has been directly involved in more Premier League goals (15) this season than Sterling, who has scored nine times while assisting another six.

2. Everton struggle to play from the back

Everton elected to play out from the back throughout the game, but often failed to get out of their own half before giving the ball back to their opponents. The back three that Marco Silva decided to play with, left the Toffees thin across the midfield and the only choices Silva’s men were left with during this game was either attempting to out play their opponents as they moved up the pitch from the back, (which was never going to happen) or punt the ball up the pitch and hope for a lucky break.

City barely gave the Toffees a moment on the ball and harassed them during every second they possessed it. All the pressure paid off and one wayward pass from Yerry Mina allowed Ä°lkay Gundogan to find Leory Sane, who delivered a terrifically weighted pass into path of Jesus who opened the scoring.

The Toffees continued to play the ball from the back, but it’s clear that they simply don’t have the quality in their ranks to pull it off  – especially against City.  Everton were far more successful when they were direct with the ball this afternoon; all of their nine attempts on goal coming from that approach.

3. Sane finds Jesus

Sane started this game a little carelessly with several poor touches and misjudged passes, but the German redeemed himself throughout the game with his excellent work rate and unrelenting efforts to get behind Everton’s defence.

He worked his way into the game with the help of compatriot Gundogan in midfield and after several efforts to penetrate Everton’s back-three, eventually found the perfect pass to set-up Jesus who slotted home expertly in the box.

Sane ended up assisting both of Jesus’ goals this afternoon – before today, none of the German’s 23 Premier League assists had been for Jesus, but he finally found him this afternoon.

4. Jesus ends his Premier League goal drought

City’s all-time top scorer, Sergio Aguero, was keeping their bench warm this afternoon, and it was left up to Brazilian Gabriel Jesus to take his place up front.

One would be forgiven for assuming that City’s goals, when they inevitably came this afternoon, would come from other players in their starting XI, as Jesus hasn’t found the net in the Premier League since August – 11 games and 487 minutes of game-time ago.

But the 21-year-old ended his goal drought with two wonderfully taken goals. His first came after Leroy Sane played him through on goal with an excellently weighted pass, which he finished off brilliantly in the box. He followed up in the second half with a quality header, aided again by Leroy Sane.

More impressive than Jesus’ goals was hie=s incredible work rate and determination to create chances against Everton, and the Brazil international finished the game as a well earned Man of the Match winner.

5. Everton are weak on the right flank

Marco Silva elected to play with a back three in this game, which meant Everton’s flanks would be well reinforced – in theory at least.

Everton’s skipper Seamus Coleman, who has been consistently solid for his side over the years, was routinely exposed this afternoon as he had a nightmare containing the overlapping runs of Gundogan, Sane and Jesus. He wasn’t helped by Everton’s carelessness in possesion, which often led to rapid counter attacks on the blues’ defence.

All three of Man City’s goals came from the left flank and the Toffees struggled to find an answer to City’s attacks down that side of the pitch all afternoon.

The post Sane finds Jesus: Five things learned from Man City 3-1 Everton appeared first on Squawka News.



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