Full-time: Man City 1-1 Everton
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeep! Bobby Madley calls time on an entertaining, often fractious affair which ended with the teams sharing the spoils. Wayne Rooney put Everton ahead in the 35th minute, before his team-mate Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was excellent this evening, showed great cunning to play a role in getting Kyle Walker set off. Despite being down to 10 men, Manchester City equalised through Raheem Sterling, before Morgan Schneiderlin got his marching orders after Sergio Aguero made a meal of what looked a fair challenge. Honours even, then ... which seems about fair.
90+4 min: Brilliant defending from Davy Klaassen, who makes a cruciasl interception as Bernardo Silva attempts to dink the ball to his namesake David in a goalkeeping position a few yards from goal. Corner for Manchester City, from which nothing comes.
90+1 min: Manchester City continue looking for a winner now the teams have both been reduced to ten men and the big-spenders in the Etihad Tunnel Club have got even more bang for their buck than they were expecting. A post-match brawl in the tunnel would be the stuff of their wildest dreams and it doesn’t seem beyond the realms of credibility.
90 min: Everton substitution: Wayne Rooney off, Muhamed Besic on.
RED CARD! Morgan Schneiderlin walks ...
88 min: Already on a yellow card, Morgan Schneiderlin is sent off for a challenge on Sergio Aguero. It looked a perfectly clean, ball-winning challenge, which Aguero made a meal of. Karma’s a bitch, innit? Schneiderlin has every right to complain, but after what happened to Kyle Walker, his team-mates can’t.
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84 min: Manchester City go in search of a winner, with Sergio Aguero mis-hitting an attempted overhead kick and then slipping as he shaped to shoot from a tight angle after he’d rolled Michael Keane and made half a yard.
Back to the goal, where Everton defender Mason Holgate provided the assist with a woeful header from the back post towards the penalty area, giving Sterling the reasonably simple task of smashing home a volley into the bottom corner. That’s the first goal Everton have conceded in five matches this season. Wayne Rooney was subsequently booked for, I think, dissent.
GOAL! Man City 1-1 Everton (Sterling 83)
Raheem Sterling volleys into the bottom left-hand corner to capitalise on a dreadful defensive header from Mason Holgate. It’s all square at the Etihad.
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82 min: Raheem Sterling tries to tee up David Silva with a pass into the Everton penalty area, but there are too many bodies there in the livery of Everton. The ball’s cleared.
78 min: Another 60 seconds of high drama as Pickford saves brilliantly from Danilo at one end, before Vincent Kompany is booked at the other for throwing himself between the ball and Calvert-Lewin in order to end a counter-attack. In between, the ball broke to Aguero from Pickford after his wonderful save and the Argentina appealed for a penalty after being bundled to the ground as he attempted to keep the ball in play.
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76 min: Nicolas Otamendi goes down holding his face after an aerial tussle with Dominic Calvert-Lewin. City’s players urder referee Bobby Madley to send the Everton man off, but he’s not prepared to do so. Replays show Calvert-Lewin caught Otamendi in the chin with a flailing hand, but it was accidental.
74 min: The 10 men of Manchester City continue to press forward and go very close. Raheem Sterling pounces greedily on an excellent lay-off from Aguero, but ends up with his head in his hands after failing to hit the target from a wonderful position. Moments previously, Rooney had fired well wide for Everton at the other end of the field.
72 min: Raheem Sterling tries to chip Pickford from distance. It’s not a dreadful effort, but it was rather optimistic. His effort sails wide of the goal.
71 min: Close! Aguero jinks this way and that on the left side of the Everton penalty area and digs out a cross under pressure. David Silva chests the ball down for Bernardo Silva, who volleys into the ground and wide. That was a decent opportunity!
69 min: Manchester City substitution: Leroy Sane off, Bernardo Silva on. Re: Kyle Walker’s march of shame for the benefit of those in Manchester City’s new Tunnel Club ...
— ulto ryan (@ultoryan) August 21, 2017
67 min: Manchester City substitution a couple of moments ago: John Stones off, Danilo on. He takes up position on the right flank, while Raheem Sterling moves into the centre.
63 min: Manchester City swarm forward, with David Silva looking dangerous but ultimately running down a blind alley. Everton break forward and Dominic Calvert-Lewin once again does well to hold the ball up on the right flank before getting a low cross in to the penalty area. Ederson gets down quickly to cut it out.
60 min: Everton double-substitution: Ashley Williams and Tom Davies off, Davy Klaassen and Gylfi Sigurdsson on. After a protracted summer transfer saga, Sigurdsson makes his debut for Everton.
59 min: Play resumes after a short break in which Schneiderlin was treated after taking that shot in the ribs. Manchester City’s players are understandably unhappy, as there doesn’t seem to be much wrong with him.
58 min: Free-kick for Manchester City, straight in front of the Everton goal, a few yards outside the D. Kevin De Bruyne fires his effort straight into the wall, where Morgan Schneiderlin takes one in the chest for his team.
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57 min: Now De Bruyne sends the ball into the penalty area, but Pickford gathers and picks out Rooney with a trademark quick release.
56 min: Nicolas Otamendi robs Tom Davies of possession on the right touchline near the halfway line and gallops up the pitch before cutting inside. He tries to pick out Sergio Aguero in the Everton penalty area, but Michael Keane heads clear.
54 min: Despite being down to 10 men, Manchester City have begun the second half as they did the first: on the front foot. They’ve had 63% of the possession so far in this half.
51 min: Kevin De Bruyne tees up Sergio Aguero on the edge of the area, but the Argentinian’s shot is blocked by Keane. He gets back on the ball and tries to scurry into the area, but Mason Holgate is glued to him like an Etihad Tunnel Club member with his or her nose pressed up to the glass and shepherds him out of play.
49 min: City fans rouse themselves to criticise referee Bobby Madley for not penalising what they saw as a Leighton Baines back-pass to Jordan Pickford that the goalkeeper picked up. They might have a point, although Madley could argue the ball broke to Pickford after a Baines tackle on Sterling.
48 min: The atmosphere seems a bit subdued, with few City fans making as much noise as their manager, who spent a couple of minutes before the restart giving the fourth official a very animated piece of his mind.
47 min: Leroy Sane is penalised for his second foul throw of the match.
Second half: Manchester City 0-1 Everton
46 min: Everton kick off, with Raheem Sterling getting his chance to parade past the slack-jawed ale-suppers of the “tunnel club” as they gaze in amazement from their privileged position at the extraordinary sight of of some men walking from a room to a football pitch. He’s on for City, who can feel very hard done by at the dismissal of Kyle Walker. The ref must have assumed he elbowed Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but replays show he did no such thing. Gabriel Jesus makes way for Sterling.
Half-time: Man City 0-1 Everton
45+3 min: The teams traipse off for their half-time break, with Everton leading against the run of play thanks to Wayne Rooney’s 35th minute strike. Manchester City must play the second half with just 10 men, after Kyle Walker was sent off for two bookable offences, one of which barely looked like an actual offence ... let alone a bookable one. We’ll see it again during the break, no doubt.
45+1 min: Still, at least those bozos in the “tunnel club” are getting value for their money. £18,812 per season it costs for the privilege of seeing footballers walking from the dressing room to the pitch and back. The sight of a player doing so at an unexpected time and in a bad mood almost makes it seems value for money.
RED CARD! Kyle Walker is sent off
44 min: Having just been booked for a foul on Leighton Baines, Kyle Walker is sent off for backing into Dominic Calvert-Lewin under a high ball. Calvert-Lewin goes down like a sack of spuds, despite replays showing there was no elbow or any other act of violence. Walker had a little look behind him before backing into his man, but that looks a ridiculous second yellow.
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42 min: A period of sustained pressure from Man City ends with Gabriel Jesus taking down a cross from Sergio Aguero and shooting straight at Pickford. Por defending from Everton, but they get away with it.
37 min: Well, you couldn’t say there wasn’t a goal coming, but I wouldn’t have bet much money on Everton getting it. Moments previously, Silva had rattled the woodwork and just before that Jagielka had performed a near miracle to block a Sergio Aguero effort from close range.
So, three chances in no more than 90 seconds and it’s Everton who are ahead. Hats off to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who’s been outstanding for Everton tonight. He’s strong, quick, his hold-up play is great and he picked out Rooney, who scored from close range, after leaving a couple of City defenders looking like mugs.
GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Everton (Rooney 35)
Wayne Rooney silences a crowd that’s been jeering him all night by steering a Dominic Lewin-Calvert cross through the legs of Ederson and in off the upright.
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34 min: David Silva rattles the foot of the left upright with a low drive after getting the better of Michael Keane again. Moments previously ... oh, hang on!
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32 min: The camera has just cut to Jose Mourinho, who is in the corwd. The Manchester United manager is wearing a navy baseball cap, which assorted people on Sky Sports keep referring to as “a disguise”. Steady on, lads - it’s just a hat. It’s not like he’s wearing a false beard and dark glasses.
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29 min: Everton win a free-kick wide on the right touchline, which Rooney floats high into the Manchester City penalty area and straight out of play. Oh, Wayne. As the Manchester City fans jeer in derision at his ineptitude, he looks heavenwards and swears loudly. I hope he doesn’t kiss his mother with that potty mouth.
CHANCE! Standing on the line, Phil Jagielka heads over the bar for a corner after Sergio Aguero had attempted to lift the ball over Pickford and into the goal. The striker pounced after Pickford dived to parry an Otamendi drive from distance back into play, but the Everton goalkeeper was quickly back on his feet to give Aguero as little as possible to aim at - hence the attempted lob, which Jagielka prevented from going in. Nothing comes from the corner.
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24 min: Tom Davies is booked for a dive after knocking the ball past Nicolas Otamendi and taking a tumble in a bid to win a free-kick in a good area. It’s a fair cop, but that doesn’t stop him protesting vigorously. Wayne Rooney appears to advise his team-mate to shut his yap and play resumes once the 19-year-old’s name has been taken.
22 min: Lots of huff and puff from both teams but not much of interest to report from the last few minutes of play. David Silva skips past Michael Keane and plays a neat pass into the path of of Sergio Aguero in an attempt to put him through on goal. Mason Holgate reads it well and intercepts, before earning a free-kick for a push in the back by Silva.
18 min: A corner for Everton, which Rooney takes. Ashley Williams appears to get a touch on the ball, but Manchester City clear to put Everton on the back foot again.
16 min: Sunderland old-boy Jordan Pickford picks out Dominic Calvert-Lewin with a lightning fast, pin-point accurate kick-out. Calvert-Lewin’s hold-up play on the edge of the final third is splendid and he picks out Tom Davies when the midfield thunders through the centre in support. He shoots wide. Excellent play on the counter from Everton.
14 min: Manchester City continue to dominate, without creating anything in the way of a decent scoring chance. Everton are holding firm, for now.
12 min: Kevin De Bruyne takes the corner, the ball is cleared to Gabriel Jesus outside the area and he shoots over the bar.
11 min: Nifty footwork down the left touchline by Gabriel Jesus, whose cross is blocked by Ashley Williams. Manchester City end up winning a corner from Phil Jagielka. Everton are under immense pressure already.
9 min: Everton try to go forward, with Mason Holgate and DOminic Calvert-Lewin combing down the right touchline. Following the intercession of Leroy Sane, the ball goes out of play for an Everton throw-in. It’s taken and shortly afterwards, Calvert-Lewin is flagged for offside.
7 min: With City breaking on the counter, Sergio Aguero gallops down the field and is fouled by Morgan Schneiderlin. Referee Bobby Madley plays the advantage, none is particularly forthcoming and Madley follows up by bringing play back for a City free-kick ... and a yellow card for Schneiderlin.
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5 min: David Silva wins a free-kick for Manchester City, tempting Idrissa Gueye into a rash challenge just in line with the left side of the Everton penalty area. Kevin De Bruyne curls the ball into the corridor of uncertainty, where an under-pressure Sergio Aguero can’t get a clean hit on it. Jordan Pickford drops low to gather.
3 min: Nicolas Otamendi takes the first shot from distance, but doesn’t trouble Jordan Pickford unduly. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is next to try his luck, running into space behind the Manchester City left-wing back and pulling a low, diagonal drive across the face of goal wide.
2 min: Manchester City start at a lively lick, with Everton sitting deep and letting them come at them.
Manchester City v Everton is go!
1 min: The pre-match pyrotechnics have left a dense fog of smoke floating over the pitch as Manchester City get the ball rolling. Both sets of players are wearing “bee” logos in solidarity with those affected by the recent terrorist atrocity at the Ariana Grande concert in the Manchester Arena earlier this summer.
Not long now ...
The players line up in the glass-walled tunnel, while fans who have paid premium prices to have dinner and drinks before pressing their noses up against the glass to stare at the exhibits as they prepare to go out and strut their stuff take photos. No, really.
Once out on the pitch, the players go through the last of their pre-match niceties soundtracked by Faithless blaring out over the PA. At least I think it’s Faithless; I’m at that age where one young people’s beat music combo sounds much the same as another. Kick-off is just moments away.
The managers speak ...
Pep Guardiola
Asked by Sky’s reporter about the refurb in the bowels of the Etihad Stadium, he says: We did absolutely everything for you, the media ... to help you feel more comfortable.”
On what he expects from his team at home: “We have to be stronger here at home. We were solid in the last month, friendlies I know, but even in Brighton, we only conceded one corner. We also try to have people with the sense of goal.
On Everton: “They have a good team ... so physical. They have also bought a lot of good players.”
Ronald Koeman
On what Everton need to do tonight: “We need to control the game. We need to defend well and for that I make the decision to play with the three centre-backs. They like to press and have a fast transition to attack.”
On what tonight’s match will tell him about his team: “Every Premier League game is a difficult one. We have a tough week coming up: three away games in seven games and you can’t do it with 11 players.”
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No start for Gylfi ...
Everton’s new Icelandic acquisition is on the bench tonight, which is unsurprising considering his lack of match fitness. Manchester City make one change from the team that beat Brighton on the opening weekend of the season, with Leroy Sane coming in for Danilo.
Manchester City v Everton line-ups
Manchester City: Ederson, Kompany, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Walker, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane, Aguero, Gabriel Jesus.
Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Sterling, Mangala, Bernardo Silva, Toure, Foden.
Everton: Pickford, Keane, Williams, Jagielka, Holgate, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Baines, Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Rooney.
Subs: Mirallas, Martina, Sigurdsson, Klaassen, Besic, Stekelenburg, Lookman.
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)
Have Man City got their own team wrong?
The club’s official Twitter account have Danilo in as left wing-back, but Sky Sports suggest that he is not playing and Leroy Sane will be in that position. We’ll confirm as soon as we know for definite.
CITY XI | Ederson, Walker, Danilo, Kompany, Stones, Aguero, De Bruyne, David Silva, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Gabriel Jesus. #cityvefc
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 21, 2017
Some pre-match listening ...
Max Rushden hosted as Paolo Bandini, Jacob Steinberg, Sid Lowe and Football Weekly debutant Ed Aarons picked over the bones of the weekend action. Hear here, or subscribe in all the usual places.
Written by Andy Hunter and published last October, this feature on the relationship between Pep and Ronald is well worth a few minutes of your time ...
Early injury news ...
For Manchester City, Benjamin Mendy is out with a thigh strain, while Ilkay Gundogan remains sidelined with an ACL knee injury but could be back within a month or so. Fabian Delph is also believed to be unavailable due to some unspecified “knock”, rumoured to be related to the sulk he’s in over Manchester City’s lack of willingness to let him leave the club on loan due to their wish to just sell him and get him off their books. Fit or not, he almost certainly wouldn’t have featured anyway.
As well as long-term absentees Yannick Bolasie, Seamus Coleman and Ramiro Funes Mori, Everton are also without want-away Ross Barkely (hamstring), James McCarthy (knee) and– possibly – Sandro (heel). Having embarked on a summer trolley-dash that may not yet be over, Ronaldo Koeman is expected to give new signing Gylfi Sigurdsson his Everton debut debut although the Icelandic midfielder is unlikely to play 90 minutes.
Barry will be here shortly.
