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Manchester City hosted Everton at the Etihad in the first clash of match-week 17. The Cityzens set aside their blip against Chelsea to put in a commanding display and emerge 3-1 winners.
The game had a good tempo to it throughout with both sides not holding back. Surprisingly, the away side raced off the blocks quicker and put City under pressure by attacking down Kyle Walker’s flank.
However, the defending champions quickly grew into the game with Fernandinho and Gundogan acting as orchestrators for their attacking play.
The home’s side dominance was rewarded when Mina gave the ball away to Gundogan. The German then picked out his compatriot, Sane, who laid the ball for Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian displayed exemplary composure to slip the ball past Pickford.
City went into the break ahead by a goal and continued with their attacking verve in the second period.
Jesus got on the end of a delightful Sane cross and made it two for the evening. Although Everton provided a brief scare with a Calvert-Lewin goal in the 65th minute, Sterling made sure the points remained at the Etihad with a header in the 69th minute.
The win propelled City to the top of the table and Liverpool’s upcoming game on Sunday means that the former would remain toppers overnight.
For Everton, their away troubles continued as they still await their second win on the road in the league.
With an entertaining match behind us, it is warranted to cast an eye on the players who either shone or flopped badly. Here is a closer look at them:
#5 Hit – Kurt Zouma
The French centre-back started alongside Keane and Mina in central defence as Marco Silva switched to a back three for the travel to Manchester.
Playing as the right-sided centre-back, Zouma put in an accomplished display while others around him capitulated under pressure.
Zouma was a towering presence at the back and rarely let any play build on his side of the defence.
Apart from his inability to close down Fernandinho for the third goal, he looked strong in the challenge and used his pace to get out of tricky situations.
As Everton chased the game, they switched to a back four, meaning that the Frenchman had to be shunted out to right-back. Yet, Zouma was unfazed and the likes of Sane and Sterling got little change out of him.
After a long-term knee injury, Zouma seems to be hitting his straps finally. Looked upon as a bright prospect at Chelsea, he is slowly but surely resurrecting his career with the Toffees.
Everton have some real problems to tackle on the road this term. However, if Zouma is as solid as he was at the Eithad, the Toffees’ second away win might not be too far away.
#4 Flop – Richarlison
The Brazilian was shifted out to his favoured position on the flanks as Calvert-Lewin was accorded a rare start. While the latter ended with a goal to show for his troubles, the former was a pale shadow of his early-season self and was guilty of spurning good chances.
Richarlison was anonymous for the majority of the game with his most notable contribution being a wonderful reverse pass to set Coleman away in the first half. Moreover, the Brazilian fired over when presented with a gilt-edged opportunity to put the Toffees ahead.
In the second half as well, he was set up by Lookman at the edge of the box but he blazed the ball over wildly.
Additionally, he didn’t put in the yards defensively and let Walker run past him on numerous occasions.
With a trip to City representing as stern a test as any, Marco Silva would’ve wanted his star man to stand up and be counted.
Yet, what transpired was an insipid performance by the Brazilian, which was compounded with his failure to tuck away chances.
The Cityzens had lost last weekend and going a goal down would’ve certainly thrown a spanner in their works.
However, Richarlison’s profligacy meant nothing of the sort happened. And unsurprisingly, City coasted to a victory.
#3 Hit – Leroy Sane
The German kept his place in the starting eleven after a virtuoso display in mid-week against Hoffenheim. Playing on the left side of the front three, Sane was a constant menace for Coleman and deservedly picked up a couple of assists.
After a rocky start to the season, the German has rediscovered his form of last term. On a chilly afternoon at the Etihad too, he was regularly causing problems with his direct running and dribbling.
However, the most impressive aspects in his recent upturn in form have been his work-rate and composure in the final third.
Against the Toffees, Sane wasn’t reluctant to get his hands dirty and tracked back to help out his defence and midfield. Moreover, he extinguished the threat of Coleman by pinning him back completely.
As for the latter aspect, Sane only got into a handful of positions where he could make a telling contribution and yet, ended up with two assists.
With the competition of places fierce at the Etihad, the German is certainly not doing his credentials any harm.
The games are coming thick and fast through the festive period and Guardiola would want his flying German to bring his ‘A-Game’ to the fore every now and then.
#2 Flop – Yerry Mina
The Colombian, who was signed in the summer had an afternoon to forget at the Etihad. After being primarily at fault for the opening goal, he also contrived to contribute negatively towards the second and third goals.
For the first goal, Mina was put under pressure by the City forwards. The centre-back in an attempt to thump it up-field ended up presenting the ball to Gundogan on a plate.
City already boasts of immense firepower and thus, inviting them to attack wasn’t the wisest idea in the world.
In the build-up to the second goal, Mina let Jesus slip in between him and Keane. The Colombian later made an attempt to pressurise Jesus into a mistake but by then it was too late.
With regards to the final goal, the centre-back was caught ball-watching as Sterling ghosted behind him to apply the gloss on the score-line.
Mina is an authoritative centre-back and has been relatively solid so far yet at the Etihad, he was anything but that. Marco Silva would hope that this performance is just an aberration and doesn’t become the norm.
#1 Hit – Gabriel Jesus
The Brazilian arrived at the Etihad having seen his goal-drought extend in mid-week. Though the streak stood at five after the game against Hoffenheim, there were signs that it was about to end quickly. And boy, didn’t he end his barren run with aplomb.
After pinching the ball off Everton, City quickly snapped into motion and Jesus made a perfectly timed run.
His movement dovetailed with Sane’s pass and he displayed immense confidence to tuck away his chance under Pickford. With his first goal since November in the bag, Jesus looked a different player altogether.
The Brazilian linked up with his teammates expertly and constantly dropped deep to cause Everton’s back-line problems. Moreover, Jesus ventured out wide at times to create space for Bernardo and Sane to move in-field.
The forward was rewarded for his endeavours when he popped up in between Keane and Mina to head home his side’s second goal.
Jesus has courted his fair share of criticism over the weeks for his failure to make the net ripple. However, on Saturday afternoon, he silenced a majority of them with an all-round display.
If the Brazilian can keep producing similar performances, the Cityzens might not be too reliant on Aguero after all.
