Match Report: Everton 0-3 Manchester City (Premier League)

Manchester City took a significant step towards the Premier League title with a crucial victory over Everton at Goodison Park.

After a brace against Leeds United last weekend, Ilkay Gundogan played another key role in a victory, breaking the deadlock with a genius improvised effort before assisting Erling Haaland’s header to double City’s lead.

The 32 year-old continued his goalscoring streak in the second half, netting his second with a sublime free-kick, as City raced to an 11th straight Premier League victory on Merseyside.

Pep Guardiola made four changes from the team which drew 1-1 with Real Madrid in midweek, as Julian Alvarez started in midfield ahead of Kevin De Bruyne, with the Belgian amongst the substitutes.

City dominated possession at Goodison Park, as Everton looked content with defending deep and trying to hit the Premier League leaders on the counter-attack.

The Toffees made a bright start, creating an early opportunity through Dominic Calvert-Lewin and also coming close to pouncing on Ederson’s misplaced clearance midway through the first half.

Despite some early difficulties, the Sky Blues took a commanding lead into the half-time break, courtesy of quick-fire goals from Gundogan and Haaland.

The German poked City into the lead with a genius goal, flicking the ball into the far corner on the turn with the outside of the boot.

Gundogan then quickly became provider, assisting Haaland’s headed goal, with the Norwegian recording his 60th direct goal involvement of the campaign in the 39th minute.

The City skipper then added a third early into the second half, scoring a sensational free-kick to make it 3-0, after Phil Foden was cynically fouled outside the box.

Everton enjoyed a bright spell after two changes by Sean Dyche, forcing Ederson into action, as the Brazilian tipped James Tarkowski’s header onto the crossbar.

Haaland acrobatically fired wide prior to being replaced by Jack Grealish, as Bernardo Silva also came on for fellow goalscorer Gundogan.

Pep Guardiola’s side have reaffirmed their four point lead at the top of the table with the win, although Arsenal will have chance to reduce that gap once again when they face Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.

Two wins from City’s final three games will guarantee a third successive Premier League title, with Chelsea visiting the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City’s final home game of the campaign next Sunday.