Pep Guardiola’s Man City made it 11 straight wins in the Premier League this afternoon as they romped to a 3-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.
Sean Dyche’s men made it a hard start to the afternoon for City, with both teams creating chances on the break early on. Guardiola’s men, however, had other ideas and managed to put the ball past Jordan Pickford 3 times, with Ilkay Gundogan directly involved in all 3 goals.
Despite holding a clean sheet for the majority of the first half, Everton were left reeling when Man City scored a brace in the space of 60 seconds in the final 5 minutes before the whistle blew.
It would be Ilkay Gundogan who proved pivotal in both goals, scoring the first and providing an assist less than a minute later.
The German midfielder took City ahead with a masterful touch in the thigh to take down a ball into the box, followed by a Dennis Bergkamp-esque improvised flick over his own shoulder to beat a sprawling Pickford.
@IlkayGuendogan makes the blue moon rise #ManCity
pic.twitter.com/wYev0aSB0Q— LC (@TapTopTit) May 14, 2023
Gundogan then provided a perfectly lofted cross into the path of goal-machine Erling Haaland moments after the game had resumed, with the Premier League record scorer adding another to his tally with a nicely placed header.
The quick succession of the two goals instantly dimmed the atmosphere inside of Goodison Park, which had been largely responsible for making the opening half a difficult affair for the travelling City.
The Sky Blues continued to push for a third before the break, but were unable to find it in time.
It didn’t take them long to find the final nail in Everton’s coffin, with Ilkay Gundogan once again stealing the show just 5 minutes in to the second half.
City were granted a free kick at edge of Everton’s box, and had Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez stood over it.
Gundogan would be the man to strike, delivering a wonderfully weighted free kick over the Everton Wall and past Pickford’s outstretched hand in the top left of the net.
Thanks for the fantasy points you baller https://t.co/iBi0nXFKOB
— 🏴 (@Anstey44) May 14, 2023
Everton were perhaps unlucky to have suffered a scoreline such as this, at a time when every point and every goal is vital.
Dyche’s men did a good job in the first half of both defending and going back at City, but we’re inevitably overwhelmed by the moments of quality Guardiola’s men can produce when required.
The home side continued to try and make it a game even at 3-0 down, even hitting the crossbar at one stage, but were unable to salvage anything from the afternoon despite preventing any further damage to their goal difference.
Man City now sit 4 points ahead of Arsenal and level on matches played, with the Gunners welcoming Brighton to the Emirates this afternoon for a 4.30PM kickoff.
Everton remain just outside of the relegation zone a point ahead of Leeds, but desperately need points from their 2 remaining games to ensure safety in what is bound to be a hectic end to the season for the bottom of the table!
