Some Jonathan Wilson on Fernandinho.
Richard Jolly was on point at Goodison this evening. His verdict has landed, and so edification is merely a click away. Enjoy his report ... and thanks for reading this one. Nighty night!
Here’s Carlo Ancelotti, reflective in his BT interview. “We were almost there ... we did well ... we did the best that we can do ... we defended well ... fighting ... for at least 80 minutes we had the game under control, we did not concede many opportunities ... I am satisfied because we competed well against the best team in the world ... they are the best ... we wanted to keep them uncomfortable ... we were focused, didn’t concede space ... we played the game we wanted to play, but they have the best team and the best bench in the world ... I think it was a good experience for us ... there are no regrets ... the regrets are the games against Burnley or Fulham ... now we have ten games in the league and we want to fight for our position in Europe next season ... Virginia did really well ... he has no experience but he is quality ... I think he deserves the compliments.”
Pep talks to BT. “It was real tough ... we saw their commitment and how focused they were ... they were aggressive in the good sense of the world ... always the long balls ... Calvert-Lewin so strong ... every throw is a corner, so really tough ... but we were patient and at the end we won it ... it was one of the toughest games we have played in the last year ... there were eight players there with two waiting for counter attacks, it’s so difficult ... it is an incredibly huge victory for us ... everybody plays at a good level ... I am looking forward to everybody coming back safe [from international duty].”
Ilkay Gundogan talks to BT Sport. “We tried to stay in the game ... it turned out well for us ... we struggled to find spaces ... Everton defended really well, they are a great team ... we knew we were going to struggle ... but we overcame it ... I was a bit scared that when I went down I would send the ball over the bar, but thank God it was a goal ... we don’t always play the best or most attractive football, but it is about staying in the game and finding the right moments ... you have to if you want to win trophies and fight for everything ... the next target now is to come back healthy from the internationals.” Refusing to be drawn on the old quadruple there, though he nearly slipped at the end, regaining his composure as Des Kelly pounced and tried to prise a quote out of him.
Pep Guardiola embraces a deflated Carlo Ancelotti before allowing a broad smile to play across his face. City were made to graft for that, and they were far from at their best. But an average Manchester City display is still something to be reckoned with. Kevin De Bruyne was involved in the breakthrough, then scored the clincher. He was on the field for ten minutes!
FULL TIME: Everton 0-2 Manchester City
City’s quadruple quest is still on! That’s 25 wins in the last 26 matches. Everton’s agonising wait for a trophy, stretching back to 1995, goes on for at least another year.
90 min +3: De Bruyne slips Foden into the box on the left. He’s one on one with Virginia, who stays big and blocks. Everton come again, Fernandinho trying to chip home from the edge of the box. It sails wide. Virginia had it covered. The young keeper has been excellent, and is very unfortunate to find himself on the losing side.
90 min +1: Everton spend the first of four extra minutes surrounding the referee. Mina thinks Mahrez went in with a high boot, as he stooped to clang that header straight at Rodri. Replays show Mahrez did no such thing.
GOAL! Everton 0-2 Manchester City (De Bruyne 90)
Rodri’s first act is to meet a poor Mina clearing header, instantly sending the ball down the inside-right channel for De Bruyne. Clear, he strides into the box, shifts onto his left foot, and nearly rips the net from its moorings. Virginia totally helpless.
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89 min: The goalscorer Gundogan makes way for Rodri. He takes his leave at professional pace.
88 min: Foden crosses from the left. Jesus tries to connect, with Everton light at the back, but Mina is on hand to ease him away from the ball.
87 min: Sigurdsson floats a free kick into the City mixer from the halfway line. Calvert-Lewin gets a head on it, but it’s an easy gather for Steffen.
86 min: Iwobi comes on for Holgate.
85 min: Virginia looks sickened, and no wonder, that’s terrible luck. But City finally carved an opening in the middle of the Everton defence, and they took advantage in the cold-eyed style. No messing.
GOAL! Everton 0-1 Manchester City (Gundogan 84)
City break through at long last! Laporte drives down the inside left and slips inside for De Bruyne. The ball comes back to him, so he has a dig from the edge of the box. Virginia tips his rising shot onto the crossbar ... but the ball ricochets to Gundogan, who steers a diving header into the unguarded right-hand portion of the net.
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83 min: Foden has a crack from 25 yards. The ball takes a little deflection off Holgate, but Virginia gets down to smother. The young keeper has barely put a foot wrong tonight, one flap apart.
81 min: Laporte, of all people, channels his inner Garrincha and goes off on a dribble down the inside-left channel. He nearly tricks his way through, too, but ultimately there are too many blue shirts on the edge of the box.
80 min: Here comes De Bruyne. He replaces Sterling, as City attempt to close this out in 90 minutes with extra time and penalties are looming.
78 min: On the touchline, Carlo Ancelotti looks the picture of serenity, despite Everton’s season teetering on the knife-edge. To be fair, he was similarly Zen when his team were playing out the 5-4 against Spurs, so we shouldn’t have expected anything different.
76 min: Calvert-Lewin is this close to releasing Digne free down the left. But his wonderful raking diagonal reverse pass is cut out acrobatically by Walker. Digne’s eyes will have lit up for a split second.
75 min: Gomes is booked for a late clatter on Foden.
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73 min: Sigurdsson probes down the right but Everton haven’t committed too many men forward, and he’s eventually forced to turn tail.
71 min: Free kick for City out on the right. Mahrez rolls it infield for Zinchenko, who rasps one from distance towards the top right. He’s really got behind that, but Calvert-Lewin bravely blocks.
69 min: Sterling spins Holgate down the left but then overruns the ball. Richarlison flies up the other end and crosses from the right, the ball hitting Dias on the elbow. VAR checks, but no penalty. This game is beginning to open up.
68 min: The corner ends up at the feet of Gomes, just to the right of the D. He sends a riser wide left, though it’s not too far away from taking a deflection off either Holgate or Mina. Had it done so, Steffen could have been in a world of pain.
67 min: Digne chases a long pass down the left and wins a corner off Walker. A chance for Everton to set up a classic smash and grab?
66 min: Mahrez is quickly involved, injecting a little pace down the right and slipping the ball inside for Foden, who turns and sends a pearler inches wide of the left-hand post. Virginia had that covered, but for a nanosecond, Everton hearts were in mouths.
64 min: City blink first. Mahrez, who scored a worldie here in the Premier League recently, comes on for the strangely quiet Silva.
63 min: Digne loops long from a deep position on the left. The ball drops towards Laporte, but the defender misjudges. He’s fortunate that Steffen comes off his line to claim, just before Richarlison can take up possession, one on one. There may have been a foul, but the referee doesn’t blow as the ball’s in the keeper’s hands.
61 min: Silva sashays in from the right, past a couple of challenges and into the Everton box. But he pulls a pass back, away from the danger zone, to nobody in particular. It’s not quite clicking for City this evening, and that decision betrayed a rare lack of confidence.
59 min: This is even closer! Sterling meets a left-wing cross and sidefoots confidently towards the bottom right from 12 yards. It’s surely sneaking in, but Virginia extends to full length and brushes the ball around the post with the very tips of his fingers. That’s a sensational save by a young man making his FA Cup debut.
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58 min: Sigurdsson curls the free kick into the City box. Mina wins a towering header, cushioning down for Richarlison, who sweeps the ball wide left from the edge of the area. Close!
57 min: Fernandinho is booked for a clip on Richarlison. A free kick out on the right. Everton line up on the edge of the City box.
56 min: City continue to probe. Everton continue to hold their shape. It’s a bit of a stand-off at the minute.
54 min: Gundogan should release Zinchenko into acres down the left, but clumps a dismal pass out for a goal kick. He yelps in frustration, while Zinchenko cocks his head back and hollers into the ether. Are City beginning to wonder if this isn’t going to be their night?
52 min: Fernandinho drives towards the Everton box and makes it inside. He should take a shot, but offloads to Sterling on the left. There’s too much weight on the pass, and Sterling can only wallop a low cross into the arms of Virginia, who claims confidently. Sweet Virginia.
51 min: Calvert-Lewin heads a long pass down, into the path of Richarlison, who considers skelping a volley goalwards ... but over-thinks and the chance evaporates.
49 min: Sterling chests down and volleys from 30 yards. That one lands deep into the Park End. But he’s soon coming at Everton again, zipping down the left and nearly getting the better of Mina. Not quite. Goal kick.
47 min: City fly out of the blocks, presumably having been on the end of a particularly peppy Pep talk. Gundogan and Foden take turns to probe down the right, the latter winning a corner. Everton clear, but only after a distinctly average flap by the young keeper. Virginia: plain.
City get the second half underway. No changes. “So Everton’s keeper has been thrown in at the deep end! Do you think Don Carlo said: ‘Virginia - Wade!’? Tip your waitress, etc.” Resident club comic Gary Naylor, ladies and gentleman. Do drive home safely.
Half-time entertainment. It’s Newcastle v Brighton in the Premier League later. John Brewin will be on the MBM later. Ahead of the big relegation six-pointer, Louise Taylor assesses the state of the shoogly peg on which Steve Bruce’s coat currently hangs.
HALF TIME: Everton 0-0 Manchester City
City have been completely dominant in terms of possession and territory. But it’s Everton who have had an effort cleared off the line. City’s quadruple quest is still alive, but so are Everton’s dreams of a first trophy since 1995.
45 min: There will be one added minute.
44 min: Digne nearly catches City napping. He whips to the near post, where Mina flashes a header towards the top left. Zinchenko is forced to head off the line, Steffen beaten all ends up. City deal with the next corner with much more authority.
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43 min: Richarlison barges his way into the City box on the right, his hard work earning a corner. Digne doesn’t rush over to take it. A nice calm amble.
41 min: Jesus works his way down the right and wins a free kick off Gomes. It’s taken quickly, Gundogan swinging it in. One of the members of Everton’s back seven heads it clear. City are struggling to penetrate this thin blue line.
39 min: Sterling slips Foden into space down the left. Foden wins a corner off Mina. He takes himself. Everton clear their lines. For all their dominance, City have achieved surprisingly little in the final third.
37 min: City balls it up big style. Gundogan surprises everyone by rolling the ball to Sterling on the opposite wing. Sterling is quickly swarmed and there’s no chance to either advance on the Everton box or deliver the ball into it. Uncharacteristically scrappy.
36 min: Mina wrestles with Jesus out on the City left and it’s a free kick. Gundogan stands over it, City having loaded the box.
35 min: The resulting corner is useless.
34 min: Sigurdsson slides a pass down the inside-right channel and is this close to releasing Calvert-Lewin. Steffen comes out to slide tackle, just in time. The ball ricochets back off the striker and nearly tees him up in front of an empty net, but Dias is on hand to hack out for a corner. On another day, that falls perfectly for Calvert-Lewin. City get away with one.
33 min: A brief pause as referee Michael Oliver gets a new battery for his CB radio, or whatever it is.
31 min: Some rare possession for Everton in the City half. Allan probes, but there’s no way to release either Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin down one of the channels. Gundogan counters and crosses from the left, but can’t find anyone in black. Sterling runs into Sigurdsson and seems to ask for a penalty, but he was the instigator and there’s no interest from the ref.
29 min: Sterling sends the free kick sailing dismally over the bar. He smiles ruefully.
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28 min: Now it’s City’s turn to stand over a free kick, as Fernandinho buys a cheap foul from the clumsy Richarlison, stepping across the ball and waiting for the inevitable contact. This is just to the left of the D.
27 min: The free kick’s looped into the box, forcing Fernandinho to head out for a corner. It comes in from the right, but it’s headed clear easily enough.
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26 min: ... and Everton are asking a few questions when they launch the odd attack. Gomes whips nicely in from the left, causing momentary concern in City ranks, then Dias fouls Calvert-Lewin as the striker breezes down the middle. A free kick, 30 yards out in a central position.
25 min: City have made 209 passes to Everton’s 17. But they haven’t really worked Virginia yet.
23 min: Out comes the yellow card now, though. Allan pointlessly clips Gundogan from behind, boot coming down on the old Achilles. A sore one, and now Everton’s holding midfielder is tippy-toes on the disciplinary tightrope.
21 min: Richarlison takes a whack in the face from Fernandinho as the City midfielder powered away from a tussle. No intent. Richarlison goes down with a yell, but the referee’s not interested in doling out any punishment.
19 min: From a throw, Allen loops into the City box from the right. Dias’s clearing header isn’t all that. Richarlison tries to return it with a bicycle kick. A decent effort loops over the bar. Better from Everton, who will be hoping to make hay from set pieces.
17 min: A bit of space for Sterling down the inside-left channel. He fires hard at goal from 25 yards, but it’s straight at Virginia, who claims well. That’s a confidence builder for the young keeper.
16 min: Foden skitters into the box from the right this time, earning a corner. Everton half-clear the set piece, and then line up with seven at the back. No way through for City. On the available evidence, Everton are going to sit back and grind this out.
14 min: City ping it around on the edge of the Everton box. Foden suddenly strides into the area. Holgate hangs out a leg. If Foden goes over, it’s a penalty, but this young man appears pre-programmed to stay on his feet. Whether that’s a good idea or not is one for the moral maze.
13 min: A bit of space for Richarlison down the left, sent away after some good hold-up play by Calvert-Lewin. But the move fizzles out quickly when Richarlison and Digne over-elaborate instead of getting a cross in, and Walker waltzes off with the ball.
11 min: City have enjoyed 83 percent of possession so far.
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9 min: Digne whips the free kick to the far post. Steffen doesn’t look wholly convincing as he knocks it away, but the whistle goes for some hanky-panky in the six-yard box.
8 min: Richarlison wanders down a cul-de-sac on the right, but Dias comes across and pointlessly nudges him to the floor. Daft free kick, and a chance for Everton to load the box.
6 min: Laporte shovels a pass down the left for Sterling, who cuts back from the byline, looking for the in-rushing Zinchenko. Gomes reads the danger and larrups Sterling’s pass clear.
5 min: A long throw into the City mixer. Mina makes a nuisance of himself but the ball’s soon in the hands of Steffen.
4 min: Silva drifts in from the right and slips a pass infield to Foden, who clearly has licence to shoot on sight. This one’s blocked too, but Foden v Virginia promises much nevertheless.
3 min: Fernandinho is clumsily bundled over by Allan, 30 yards out in a central position. Foden decides to try out the 21-year-old goalkeeper early doors, sending a heatseeker towards the top right. Mina eyebrows it away, which means Virginia hasn’t been tested yet. The resulting corner is a non-event.
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2 min: City spend some time with the ball, caressing it here, feathering it there. A pattern is already set.
Everton get the ball rolling ... but only after the knee is taken. There’s no room for racism. Kick it out.
The teams are out! Everton in their famous royal blue, City in second-choice black. Z-Cars blasts from the PA as usual. Here’s what it would sound like if it was a track on Brian Eno’s Music for Airports.
Carlo talks to BT Sport. “It is a big challenge, but it’s the quarter-final of an important competition. We are well prepared for this game, it doesn’t matter what happened in the last two. It is a great opportunity to show our quality and try to reach the semi-final.”
So does Pep. “This is a final. In or out. I don’t think managers prioritise competitions. Sometimes there are injuries. But all the managers want to win all the games in all competitions.”
Everton make four changes to the XI named for the home defeat to Burnley last weekend. Joao Virginia replaces the injured Jordan Pickford in goal, while Michael Keane, Tom Davies and Alex Iwobi drop to the bench, replaced by Seamus Coleman, Yerry Mina and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
It’s six changes for Manchester City from the XI who breezed past Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League. Ederson, John Stones, Joao Cancelo, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez drop to the bench, making way for Zack Steffen, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.
Team news
Everton: Virginia, Holgate, Mina, Godfrey, Coleman, Andre Gomes, Allan, Digne, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.
Subs: Keane, Iwobi, Nkounkou, Davies, Broadhead, John, Tyrer, Onyango, Leban.
Manchester City: Steffen, Walker, Laporte, Dias, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Foden.
Subs: Stones, Aguero, Rodri, De Bruyne, Torres, Mendy, Mahrez, Joao Cancelo, Ederson.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
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Preamble
Manchester City’s quadruple quest continues tonight. Victory in this quarter final seems more likely than not: they’re currently on a six-game winning streak against Everton, and a four-match winning run at Goodison. They swatted the Toffees aside here last month, and have responded to neighbours United ending their 21-game winning run by starting another victorious sequence: three wins to the aggregate score of 10-2.
Contrast and compare. Everton have lost their last two, are struggling for goals, and have a miserable home record this season. City are hot favourites this evening, then, but the cup’s the cup’s the cup, and they’ve been surprised in knockout competition before. And their opponents tonight will be desperate to win, a first trophy since they won this competition in 1995 within realistic reach.
Kick off is at 5.30pm GMT. There’ll be extra time and penalties if needs be. It’s on!
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