Man City vs Everton: Haaland's Brace Secures Dominant 2-0 Victory at Etihad

February 4, 2026

First Half: Everton's Promising Start

The opening 45 minutes belonged to David Moyes' organized Everton side, who frustrated the home crowd with disciplined defensive work and dangerous counter-attacks. Senegalese forward Iliman Ndiaye emerged as the visitors' brightest spark, consistently threatening City's backline with his pace and technical ability.

Everton should have taken the lead when Ndiaye intercepted a poor pass from Nathan Ake, but striker Beto couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. The Senegalese international also forced an exceptional save from City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with a thunderous long-range effort that tested the Italian's reflexes to the limit.

Haaland's Second-Half Masterclass

Everything changed in the 52nd minute when Erling Haaland unleashed his goal-scoring prowess. The towering striker powered home a precise header from Nico O'Reilly's perfectly delivered cross, giving Jordan Pickford no chance despite the England keeper's desperate dive.

Just five minutes later, Haaland struck again. Savinho's dangerous cutback, which deflected slightly off James Tarkowski, found the Norwegian in space inside the box. With trademark composure, he swept the ball past Pickford to double City's advantage and effectively seal the three points.

Statistical Dominance

The final numbers reflected Manchester City's control: 67.4% possession compared to Everton's 32.6%, 12 shot attempts to 8, and crucially, 7 shots on target versus just 3 for the visitors. City's 5 corner kicks also doubled Everton's 2, highlighting their territorial superiority once Haaland broke the deadlock.

Tactical Analysis: Guardiola's Adjustments

Pep Guardiola's tactical tweaks proved decisive, with Jeremy Doku replacing Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake coming in for Josko Gvardiol. The manager praised Phil Foden's maturity in controlling the game's tempo, comparing him to "a good wine" that improves with age.

"It's not all about sixth gear explosion actions," Guardiola explained post-match. "Phil has learned when to walk, when to pass, when to touch the ball. He's been brilliant."

Haaland's Remarkable Scoring Streak

This double took Haaland's Premier League tally to 11 goals already this season, moving him five goals clear at the top of the scoring charts. The 25-year-old has now netted an astonishing 23 goals in just 13 games for club and country this campaign, including a hat-trick for Norway during the recent international break.

"I wish he was somewhere else," David Moyes admitted with a wry smile. "Most managers will be thinking the same, won't they? His ability to score—he has something others haven't."

Implications for the Title Race

This victory lifted Manchester City into second place in the Premier League table with 47 points from 24 games, closing the gap on Arsenal at the top. After a difficult August that saw them lose twice in their opening three games, City have now strung together four wins and a draw in their last five league matches.

For Everton, currently sitting in 10th place with 34 points, the defeat was frustrating after their impressive last-gasp victory over Crystal Palace before the international break. The Toffees' inability to convert their first-half chances ultimately cost them, with strikers Beto and Thierno Barry managing just one goal between them all season.

Key Takeaways

• Haaland's Clinical Edge: Two goals from limited opportunities showcased world-class finishing
• Everton's Missed Chances: Ndiaye's brilliance deserved more, but poor finishing proved costly
• City's Title Credentials: Despite not being at their fluent best, the champions are grinding out results
• Moyes' Tactical Discipline: Everton frustrated City for an hour before individual quality prevailed

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