City 2 Everton 1
Jan 1st 2020 att.54,407
Another tough game won by the odd goal to start the New Year. The well organized Everton defence and VAR kept City out in the first half and it was left to Jesus to notch a couple of goals and he might have completed a hat-trick late in the match but his effort hit the post. Nice to see Foden start a league game and he got the ball in the net early on but alas VAR caught Mahrez offside in the move. He was also brought down in the penalty area late in the game but not even VAR called to help.
Mendy had one of his better games and was quite dangerous on the left wing. Both Mahrez and De Bruyne were slightly off but they had been putting in a lot of effort recently. Strange to see a certain Delph in the opposition!
Fernandinho and Garcia did OK at the centre of defence but Bravo gave Everton a late Xmas present with a poor clearance which led to the Everton goal.
City made several changes from the Sheffield U game - Cancelo in for Walker, Mendy for Zinchenko, Foden for Sterling, Gundogan for Benardo, Jesus for Aguero but Bravo stayed in goal as Ederson was ill
Plenty of support by Everton fans
Pickford is busy in the early minutes
A Coleman shot is saved by Bravo
On 16 minutes Cancelo passes to Mahrez who crosses....
....and the ball runs to Foden who bangs it into the back of the net!
He celebrates with the South Stand but alas 2 minutes later we get the VAR news - OFFSIDE!!! oh dear
Pep tells Ancelotti how lucky he was!
Ah Mahrez is away again....
...but he is brought down but after a 2 minute wait we get the message again! We do so enjoy VAR!!!!
Jesus shoots over the bar
At a City corner Fernandinho heads over the bar
Mina fouls De Bruyne and is booked
Jesus shoots just wide and it's goal-less at half time
A header by Jesus goes just wide
On 51 minutes Jesus beats Holgate......
....and curls the ball into the top corner beating Pickford to give City the lead - at LAST!!
At last the City players can celebrate
Everton try to hit back and at a corner Calvert-Lewin heads just wide
Mahrez clashed with Mina and eventually a great move led to Jesus shooting past Pickford for number two for City
It was his 13th goal this season in only 17 starts
...and the ball is deflected by Mendy to Richarlison who gives the visiting fans something to cheer about
Foden is brought down by Sidibe but no penalty!
Jesus goes for his hat-trick.....
...but the ball hits the post
Pickford had plenty to do all game
Phil Foden has to have a rest!
Good to see David Silva back in business
coming on for Foden
Davies header following a corner goes wide
Calvert-Lewin fouls Fernandinho and gets a yellow -
might have been a red
Manage to hang on until the final whistle and it's a well earned three points
Team
Bravo 5.5: Cancelo 7, Fernandinho 8, Garcia 7.5, Mendy 7.5: Rodrigo 7, Gundogan 7, De Bruyne 7.5,
Mahrez 7 (Sterling) Foden 7 (Silva) Jesus 8.5
