Key events
72 mins: Everton are pushing forward. They send in a couple of crosses without any noticeable results but it is a sign of intent.
70 mins: “Evening Will,” evening Stephen Carr. “The carrying on from Jordan Pickford is absolutely exhausting. He was at fault for the both goals and just looks utterly unfocused.”
I should say Pickford was booked while trying to delay the penalty being taken.
68 mins: I also said Alvarez needed to provide more movement. I am not sure how I can claim that helped him score the penalty but I will do my best.
Everton get a corner on the left. Garner whips it into the six-yard box but Tarkowski heads wide.
66 mins: City need to keep things calm for a few minutes to avoid Everton get back into this.
65 mins: It was a very generous penalty decision considering the distance between Ake and Onana. Shearer has a go at the laws of the game.
Kovacic replaces Nunes, while Calvert-Lewin and Keane are on for Everton.
GOAL! Everton 1-2 Manchester City (Alvarez, pen, 64)
Alvarez sends it down the middle and under Pickford’s feet.
62 mins: PENALTY TO CITY! A corner is swung to the back post, a Foden shot is blocked and lands with Ake, who shoots into Onana’s arm from two yards away. Handball given.
61 mins: Akanji is belatedly booked for his foul on Onana.
Gomes is booked soon after for clipping Grealish around 20 yards from goal. Will Alvarez have a dig? He has a hug with Foden beforehand. The Argentinian aims for the top corner but Pickford gets across quickly to palm clear.
58 mins: Onana produces a lovely bit of skill to outwit Akanji who gains his revenge by clattering into the Belgian. I feel like that is something in the region of being a dead leg.
56 mins: City have stepped it up and Everton will need to match them soon.
Chris Thomson has an idea: “Instead of their daft subs count, why not just have pundits that give points for the shameless diving that everyone does. Player goes down, rolls around a bit then has a wee look up and gets on with the game. Followed by a review and a mark out of 10.”
54 mins: I told Guardiola to get Foden on the ball more. I am right. Well done me.
It is almost a second for City as Alvarez pings a cross along the goalline which no one can get a touch on, despite Foden best efforts at the front post.
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Manchester City (Foden, 53)
Foden pings one into the bottom corner from 25 yards, much to Pickford’s surprise.
52 mins: Beto is enjoying the battle as the lone front man. He battles with Akanji and Walker before winning a free-kick.
Pickford whacks it into the box but City get rid and counter through Bernardo Silva but Everton get back in numbers. City keep coming and Nunes sends in a low cross from the right which Tarkowski squirms wide of his own goal.
50 mins: Branthwaite is on his haunches. I am not sure why. He gets up and looks alright.
Dave Mc asks: “Like when Scotland were unofficial World champions for so long, would Everton now become World Club Champions, by beating the holders?”
I would like to think so.
49 mins: Rodri whacks a bouncing ball around 20 yards over the bar from the edge of the box.
Amazon are pushing their weird subs thing. No one cares, lads.
47 mins: City having all the ball while being hounded by Everton. This is exactly the same as the start to the first half.
Second half
Here we go again!
What can City do to improve? Get Foden on the ball a bit more? More movement from Alvarez? I don’t know how I am not a Premier League manager.
I suspect this lad is good.
Half time: Everton 1-0 Manchester City
Everton under Dyche know their gameplan; they defend as a unit and they have the quality to create chances in the blink of an eye. City have had all the ball but without being anywhere near their best.
45+2 mins: City offer more nice touches on the edge of the box but without providing the penetration required. Everton are defending very well.
45 mins: Three minutes added on.
44 mins: Rodri penalised for a late challenge on Garner. I suspect the Spaniard is a little frustrated with himself for his part in the goal.
43 mins: Stones kicks the ball out and his game is done. Gvardiol is on to play at left back. Guardiola is very unhappy with the officials for not flagging earlier to prevent Stones being injured.
41 mins: Stones is still limping and Gvardiol is coming on. This cannot wait until half time.
It should be said, in attacking terms, there is not much Premier League experience on City’s bench. Oscar Bobb has had the most minutes.
40 mins: City’s free-kick goes to the back post where it comes off Tarkowski and goes out for a corner, which comes to nothing. Everton are good at attacking and defending set-pieces, it turns out.
39 mins: Patterson goes into the book for a cynical foul on Grealish to stop him getting past the full-back.
“That Everton goal was like one of these Crap 90s Football clips,” says Kári Tulinius. “I half expected to see Garry Flitcroft on the field, looking aghast at as defensive shambles unfold around the City penalty box.”
Steve Lomas would have lumped it clear, to be fair.
38 mins: Stones gets up after a decent amount of treatment. He limps off to the touchline as he attempts to prove his fitness.
37 mins: Edan Tal asks: “Is the most surprising thing about this game so far that Andre Gomes is still at Everton?”
This is his first start since May 2022 …
36 mins: Everton have, understandably, grown in confidence and are pushing City back. Harrison looks well up for this, eager to show City what they let go.
Beto goes through on goal but Stones catches up on him and tackles the striker at the last second but he is left in a heap in the floor. Then the flag goes up …
34 mins: It is an Everton corner on the left. Gomes swings the ball into the six-yard box, helped by the wind; it is headed out to Harrison, who takes aim for the top corner from 16 yards but Ederson produces a stunning save to tip the ball wide.
32 mins: Grealish does well inside the box and lifts his head up to find Rodri on the edge but he splices his shot well wide.
30 mins: City might need pick things up in. They have been pretty blunt in the final third.
29 mins: I have no idea what Rodri is doing as he passes the ball to backwards to McNeil in the box, allowing him to cross for Harrison to nudge in from close range.
