Manchester City moved up to fourth in the Premier League table after running out 2-0 winners over Everton at Goodison Park.
Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic found the net late on for City after they endured a largely uninspired afternoon on Merseyside.
Everton came close in the first half courtesy of James Tarkowski but the Toffees captain limped off with injury shortly after the restart.
The result continues Everton’s miserable recent record against City. The last time they beat the visitors was in 2017.
FULL-TIME | Three big points! 💪
🔵 0-2 🤎 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/ZvWIMNg2D1
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 19, 2025
Below par City frustrated by hosts
The visitors dominated the opening exchanges with Kevin De Bruyne, playing his final few games as a City player, finding early pockets of space in Everton’s defensive third.
With a quarter of an hour gone, Matheus Nunes tried his luck from range, and, while his standing foot gave way, the shot still looked destined for the bottom corner but Jordan Pickford was equal to it, pushing the ball behind for a corner.
The Toffees had started the slower of the two sides but it was Moyes’ men who went closest early on. From a corner, captain James Tarkowski’s header rebounded back off the right post with Stefan Ortega in the City goal rooted to the spot.
It proved to be the standout moment from an otherwise drab half of football, summed up by Nunes being penalised for a foul throw.
After the break, Ortega misjudged a cross from the right-hand side. The ball drifted over the City keeper but Ndiaye could not get the necessary connection and the visitors were able to clear.
Moyes was then dealt a hefty blow when Tarkowski – whose run of 111 consecutive starts in the Premier League for Everton is just three short of Wayne Bridge’s all-time record – pulled up five minutes after the restart and had to be replaced.
A boyhood blue, shining on the big stage 💫🩵 pic.twitter.com/EStCNk6heD
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 19, 2025
Pickford saved well from Savinho after some fine work by Omar Marmoush in the build-up.
But it was largely unconvincing stuff from Guardiola’s side, despite knowing a win would lift them to fourth in the table.
However, with five minutes remaining, City broke the deadlock courtesy of O’Reilly. Nunes raced clear down the right before sending a low ball across the box which was met by the unmarked left-back and the impressive 20-year-old made no mistake from six yards.
The goal gave City renewed life. In stoppage time, they made the points secure when substitute Kovacic found the net following a pass from Ilkay Gundogan.
