The Premier League title that City have held proudly for the past four years will soon head to one side of Stanley Park, but their Champions League fate is in the other end after a late loss to Everton.Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic sealed a victory that even Guardiola couldn’t have foreseen to keep City in the top flight for 15 consecutive seasons.
A goalless draw was the most likely outcome for most pedestrian contests, but a late surge, shaped by the contrasting effect of the substitutes, saw City dominate and secure a ninth straight win.Aston Villa’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday represents a huge moment in a difficult season for Guardiola and his squad.
“A big win is very important,” said the Manchester City manager.Newcastle Nottingham Forest We will see what happens with Fulham and Chelsea.Now we have it in hand.
“We need the final on Tuesday. We hope we can have this big success with three home games, two away games and a chance to qualify for the Champions League.”
Michael Keane from the Everton squad.The finale matched everything before, with Jérémy Doku and Kovacic flourishing as City struggled as Carlos Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam struggled.City had early possession but urgency.Lacking movement and ideas to break down a well-drilled Everton defence, their first-half performance was too strong.Referee Simon Hooper may not have been the most popular figure at Goodison, but he deserved a medal for adding three seconds to the end of the opening period.
The best and only chance of the first half went to Everton.James Tarkowski towered a James Garner corner above Josko Gvardiol and headed Stefan Ortega’s header inside the left-hand post.Matheus Nunes hacked Jake O’Brien clear before taking the rebound.
Tarkowski suffered a hamstring injury early in the second half and was helped off the field.Depending on the severity of the injury, it could prove to be the Everton captain’s latest appearance.That’s not easy.
David Moyes said “For 60 minutes I thought we were fine and gave them a game.”Tarky coming on made a big difference to the game.It shouldn’t be, but you can feel it.Manchester City have also noticed this.”
Everton started the second half strongly. Ortega was saved by Jarrad Branthwaite after Tarkowski took a free kick from Garner’s centre-back partner.Branthwaite directed his header straight at the City keeper from six yards unmarked.
Ortega then missed a deep cross from Harrison and Gvardiol made a crucial save as Abdoulaye Doucouré looked to capitalize.Doucouré was also blocked by Ortega as he aimed for the top corner.
Tarkowski’s departure and an unconvincing display by his replacement, Keane, turned the contest in City’s favour.Omar Marmoush was introduced for a late challenge and within three minutes he was booked and the momentum was bad.
Marmoush and Ilkay Gündogan tested Jordan Pickford as City once again dominated with purpose.Marmoush crossed to Kane and cleared the goal, but the Everton keeper made a good save.
After Alcaraz wasted Everton with a horrendous cross.Bernardo Silva drops Nunes off the line.Crossing the face of Everton’s six-yard box and dropping low to the right-back, O’Reilly, who switched Manchester City’s left and right, Kane, Branthwaite and Pitford’s home run was obliterated.
At the time of injury An impressive Doku found Gündogan from Kovacic 20 yards out.The substitute slipped but finished powerfully into the bottom corner.
Kevin De Bruyne was sportingly applauded by the Everton crowd when he was substituted in his final Goodison appearance.The strength of City’s bench made the difference.
