Everton player ratings as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and five more good in Man City loss
A determined Everton kept reigning English, European and World champions Manchester City at bay for 70 minutes at the Etihad but were ultimately undone by two pieces of brilliance by Erling Haaland.
With manager Sean Dyche serving a one-match touchline ban and watching on from the stands, the visitors defended doggedly throughout the first three quarters of the contest before the Norwegian, who is arguably the best centre-forward in the game, punished them with a brace of clinical finishes.
Jordan Pickford 6
Unfortunate that he found Haaland’s shot just too hot to handle for the opener, he’d dealt with everything that had come his way up until that point, including an improvised save rushing out of his goal to deny Matheus Nunes in the first half, while there was little he could do for the second.
AS IT HAPPENED: Man City vs Everton score updates and analysis
Ben Godfrey 7
Produced a strong display, being kept busy up against the dangerous Jeremy Doku but keeping his head before being forced out of the action through injury 10 minutes into the second half.
Vitalii Mykolenko 7
Defended in a disciplined manner against the twinkling toes of Phil Foden, he maintained his shape well before his team were undone down the middle.
James Tarkowski 7
Led Everton’s determined defensive display with crucial last-ditch challenges on Phil Foden and dominant headed clearances, he just couldn’t get enough purchase on trying to get rid of the ball from the corner for Haaland’s decisive opener.
Jarrad Branthwaite 6
Like Tarkowski alongside him, the young centre-back did so well to keep City’s attackers, particularly Haaland, at bay for so long but ultimately he was punished twice by the world’s best centre-forward as his clearance fell
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