Striker Erling Haaland scored a double to help Man City beat Everton 2-0 in round 24 of the Premier League to temporarily take the top spot from Liverpool.
Haaland was lackluster in the first half and scored two goals from two shots on target in the second half. In the 71st minute, from a chaotic situation in the penalty area, the ball came to Haaland's feet and the Norwegian striker swung his right foot to shoot powerfully from close range. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford touched the ball but could not save it.
Haaland increased the score to 2-0 in the match between Man City and Everton at Etihad Stadium in round 24 of the Premier League on February 10. Photo: Reuters
These were Haaland's 50th and 51st goals respectively in his 50th Premier League start - a league record. He continues to lead the Premier League's top scorer list this season with 16 goals, two more than Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, despite having just missed two months of action due to injury.
More importantly, Haaland's performance helped Man City temporarily take the top spot in the table for a few hours, before Liverpool met newcomer Burnley at Anfield. Man City currently has 52 points, one point more than Jurgen Klopp's army.
As Man City will visit Copenhagen in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on February 13, coach Pep Guardiola has to adjust his squad. Accordingly, Kyle Walker, Josko Gvardiol, Jack Grealish, Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva are all on the bench.
The absence of both Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne left Man City stuck, lacking in breakthrough passes. In the first half, they controlled the ball 74%, had 10 shots but failed to hit the target.
The most notable incident came in the second minute of stoppage time, when Manuel Akanji had a chance to shoot in the box but was blocked by centre-back James Tarkowski. Striker Erling Haaland only had one finish - a header over the bar from Jeremy Doku's cross.
Haaland celebrates opening the score in the 71st minute. Photo: Reuters
Man City only improved after De Bruyne and Kyle Walker entered the field in the 57th minute. The defending champions gradually created great pressure and made a difference with Haaland's goals. In the final minute of the match, Beto shot past goalkeeper Ederson but it was disallowed for offside.
In the next round, Man City will face Chelsea at Etihad on February 17, while Everton will return home to face Crystal Palace.
Line-up :
Man City : Ederson, Stones, Dias, Akanji (Walker 57), Ake, Rodri, Nunes (De Bruyne 57), Foden, Alvarez (Silva 77), Doku (Grealish 87), Haaland.
Everton : Pickford, Godfrey (Coleman 56), Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Harrison, Garner, Gueye (Chermiti 89), Young (Onana 78), McNeil (Dobbin 88), Calvert Lewin (Beto 78).
Hong Duy
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